No House business for 13th day

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 21

The logjam in Parliament continued for 13th consecutive day today of the second leg of the Budget session, as members of some parties like the AIADMK and TRS continued with their noisy protests, forcing adjournments of the two Houses without transacting any business. As a result, the Lok Sabha failed to take up the notices of no-confidence motion against the government for the fourth day.

While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any business, barely four minutes after it assembled, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon and thereafter for the day due to the protests by parties from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Within minute after the House assembled for the day, Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon and then when it reassembled, members from the AIADMK, TDP and the TRS were again seen raising slogans and holding placards in the well.

After the laying of papers by ministers, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar urged the members to return to their seats so that legislative business could be taken up. He said the government was willing to discuss any issue, including the no-confidence motion. “We have the confidence of the House as well as of the entire country,” he added.

When the Speaker took up the two notices of the trust vote given by the TDP and YSRC, the AIADMK members raised the pitch of their slogans. TRS members were also seen in the well.

Mahajan said she could not do a headcount of 50 members supporting the move, a pre-requisite for taking up the notices for the trust vote. Placards held by protesting MPs were apparently blocking her view.

Members of the Congress, TMC and the Left then raised their hands and stood at their seats to indicate to the Speaker that they were supporting the no-confidence motion. But Mahajan said as the House was not in order she could not move ahead with the issue and adjourned the House for the day.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the Rajya Sabha proceedings right after the House assembled.

The first adjournment came four minutes after the start of proceedings as members of Andhra parties trooped into the well raising slogans over special status for the state. Members of Tamil parties — DMK and AIADMK — joined them over constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board for river water sharing between their state and Karnataka.