12 days and counting... Ruckus forces adjournment of Parliament

Ruckus created by parties from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on Tuesday paralysed proceedings in Parliament for the 12th straight day, even as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed both the Houses of the death of 39 missing Indians in Iraq.

The Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon and then for the day due to the ruckus created by several protesting parties, leading Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to announce that she was unable to take up the no-confidence motion as there was no order in the House.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day within about 30 minutes since it assembled after Swaraj made a suo motu statement on the Indians killed in Iraq.

She said all the 39 Indians abducted by the Islamic State in Mosul in Iraq three years ago are dead and their bodies have been recovered.

After she made the statement, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu termed it as “a very sad news”, following which members in the Upper House stood in silence to mourn the dead.

Expressing grief over the deaths, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad sought to remind the government it had “assured us last year that the Indians were alive”.

Minutes before Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid ruckus by Tamil and Andhra parties, the Congress hit out at the government for the stalemate saying it was not making an effort to engage with all parties to ensure that issues like banking fraud are debated in the House.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said they wanted the House to function and debate three pressing issues as well as the Budget and other legislative business.

While most of the opposition wanted Azad to make the statement, Tamil parties -- Dravida Munnetra Kazagham and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -- as well as those from Andhra Pradesh including Telugu Desam Party trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans for constitution of Cauvery Water Management Board and special status to Andhra.

Amid the din, he said 10 opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, DMK, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist had met on Tuesday morning and agreed that the House should function.

Three major issues which are agitating the minds of people are “irregularities in banks where billions of rupees have been looted”, special category status for Andhra Pradesh and Cauvery water, Azad said, adding “we want that the House functions and discussions take place on the three issues.”

The government is “responsible for the impasse” as it is not engaging with all political parties, he said, adding that no effective step has been taken so far to ensure that the
House functions.

While Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad countered him saying the government is prepared for debate on all issues including the banking fraud, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said the government has since the first day said it is prepared for any discussion.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he too had on the very first day said that banking issue needs to be discussed and the government has also agreed to it.

“I don’t find any reason” for disruption, he said. “What is happening. This is no good.” But minutes later, he adjourned the proceedings for the day.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not transacted any substantial business since March 5 when the second half of the Budget session of Parliament resumed, due to protests. The Lower House had passed the budget without debate last week.

In the Lok Sabha, Swaraj was unable to make an elaborate statement on the 39 Indians killed in Iraq, due to ruckus created by slogan-shouting members.

Amid din, the notices of no-confidence motion against the government could not be taken up on Tuesday.

The Speaker said the House was not in order and hence she cannot verify whether the members who have given the notices can go ahead with moving the motion.

Amid slogan shouting by members from various parties, the House was adjourned for the day with Mahajan terming the scenes as “unfortunate”.

A bill to ban unregulated chit fund schemes was also moved for introduction amid disruptions.

When the House met at noon, Mahajan ordered laying of the listed papers, but soon AIADMK and TDP members rushed into the Well and started raising slogans in support of their demands.

Congress members, who were at their seats, objected to the disruptions, saying this would prevent the notices of no-trust motion from being taken up.

The Speaker urged the members to maintain order as Swaraj wanted to inform the House about a “serious” issue. At this moment, Congress and Left members started raising slogans such as “no no”, drowning the voice of Swaraj.

“She wants to inform the House about the 39 Indians killed in Iraq. Please listen to her,” the Speaker said.

Swaraj said she cannot make a statement in the din as it was a serious issue, while recalling that the Lok Sabha had on several occasions discussed about the fate of the 39 Indians.

“I want to present the evidence today. Please listen to me... please maintain silence,” the minister said, amid slogan shouting by Congress, AAP and Left members.

As Sushma’s statement was repeatedly disrupted by opposition members, an anguished Speaker wondered whether the members have become “insensitive” and have “lost compassion” towards fellow countrymen.

“Don’t indulge in such politics. Don’t be so insensitive... This is a very sorry state.... It has never been such a sorry state (of affairs). It is sad,” Mahajan remarked.

After Swaraj took her seat, the Speaker referred to the notices of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers. She said she is duty-bound to take up the matter but since the House is not in order, she cannot verify whether the members who have given notices can move the motion.

When she referred to the notices, members from the TDP and the AIADMK were seen shouting slogans.

At least 50 members have to support the motion before it is moved. A headcount is difficult when there are disruptions and several members are standing, former top LS officials have explained. As the ruckus continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.