New Delhi: For the 13th consecutive day, both Houses of Parliament failed to transact any business as parties like the main opposition Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and AIADMK continued with their noisy protests on various issues. With the House not being in order, the Lok Sabha could not take up the notices of no-confidence motion against the Government, moved by TDP and YSR Congress on Wednesday.
Lok Sabha functioned for a total of nine minutes while the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day within four minutes of the upper house assembling in the morning.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the Rajya Sabha in four minutes after the start of proceedings as members of Andhra parties, including TDP, and K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao of the Congress trooped into the Well raising slogans seeking a special status for the state.
No sooner were the listed papers laid on the table, the members of Tamil Nadu parties — DMK and AIADMK — too walked into the Well demanding immediate constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board for river water sharing between their state and Karnataka. Congress members too joined them in the Well shouting slogans against the government. Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad sought a discussion on the atrocities against the SCs and STs as well as on the statement of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on the killing of 39 abducted Indians in Iraq.
He said the House should debate the statement Swaraj made last year and what she stated on Tuesday.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu asked him to give proper notice for the same and asked the members to allow the House to function. “What is happening. Are we so helpless,” he asked. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not transacted any substantial business since the Budget Session of Parliament resumed on March 5, barring the passage of the budget by the Lower House without any debate.
