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Latest updates: Both Houses of the Parliament were adjourned following Opposition ruckus on the Punjab National Bank scam, and the alleged fraudulent transactions in other public sector bank. The Opposition remained unrelenting even as the Chair tried to conduct a debate on the issue in Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are expected to meet a delegation of TDP leaders over the issue of granting special status to the state of Andhra Pradesh. The development comes at a time when the government has already been cornered by the YSRCP over the issue. Both Houses of the Parliament have reconvened. However, ruckus by Opposition parties has led to the Lok Sabha being adjourned till 12 pm. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha too has been adjourned till 2 pm. Meanwhile, JP Yadav of the RJD and Naresh Agarwal of the SP have issued adjournment notices to discuss the Punjab National Bank scam. BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has issued an adjournment notice to discuss corruption among relatives of former ministers. The second half of the Budget Session of Parliament will commence on Monday with the government seeking to push its legislative agenda, including the bill for confiscation of properties of fugitives, and the opposition likely to target it on a range of issues including the multi-crore bank frauds. The session begins two days after the election results in the northeast were announced that saw the BJP triumphing in Tripura and improving its performance in Nagaland and Meghalaya. The BJP is expected to be in high spirits to take on a combative opposition that has been seeking to pin down the government over the Rs 12,600 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi. The government and the Congress are also likely to cross swords over the arrest of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti by the CBI in the INX Media alleged bribery case. The Congress has termed the CBI action “political vendetta”. Though the government has taken several steps in the light of the massive bank fraud — the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill; the directive to public sector banks to identify and report NPAs over Rs 50 crore to the CBI; nod to set up an authority to oversee auditing standards of large companies besides swift action by the CBI and the ED in the Nirav Modi case — the opposition is likely to keep up its offensive and seek a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, which will be introduced during the session, provides for confiscation of properties of people who flee the country after committing huge financial frauds. [caption id=“attachment_4326545” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] It provides for giving an application before the Special Court for a declaration that an individual is a fugitive economic offender, attachment and confiscation of his property resulting from the proceeds of crime as also his other property in India and abroad, including benami properties. The Finance Ministry on 27 February directed public-sector banks to scan their Non-performing Asset (NPA) accounts above Rs 50 crore for possible fraud and refer any such fraud cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Ministry has also given these banks a 15-day window to identify gaps and brace for increasing operational and technical risks to the banking system. The BJP, on its part, has been stating that the multi-crore PNB fraud has its genesis in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government’s tenure. A relief for the government is that the opposition is divided over suggestions for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the PNB fraud. The Trinamool Congress does not appear favourably disposed to the idea, having said that previous JPCs have not yielded results. The opposition is also likely to corner the government over the tussle between Prasar Bharti and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. It is likely to raise issues concerning farmers, the Rafale deal, Staff Selection Commission “job scam”, loss of life and property due to ceasefire violations on the LoC and increase in cost of petroleum products. Apart from the finance bill, the government may also push for passage of the pending triple talaq bill during the session that ends on 6 April. With inputs from IANS
Budget Session updates: Both Houses adjourned over ruckus on PNB scam; TDP protests outside Parliament
The second half of the Budget Session of Parliament will commence on Monday with the government seeking to push its legislative agenda, including the bill for confiscation of properties of fugitives, and the opposition likely to target it on a range of issues including the multi-crore bank frauds.
 "Budget Session updates: Both Houses adjourned over ruckus on PNB scam; TDP protests outside Parliament")
Why did Congress not allow business to happen? asks Ananth Kumar
“From 5 March to 27 March, why did the Congress not allow business to happen?” said Union minister Ananth Kumar. “On 15 and 16 March, the YSRCP and TDP motions of no-confidence were brought up. Congress brought it up on 27 March? Why did they bring it up so late?” he added.
“Congress has become a marginal party, even in the Parliament,” he said. “They don’t have their own parliamentary strategy for both the Houses. They don’t have parliamentary logic,” he added.
BJP will protest against negative attitude of Congress: Ananth Kumar
BJP works for connecting people, Congress works for dividing people. Congress indulges in divisive, negative politics. It didn't let the House function. We'll sit in protest against the negative attitude of Congress during last 23 days: Ananth Kumar,Parliamentary Affairs Minister pic.twitter.com/T710ENwveX
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
Venkaiah Naidu reminds MPs of their duties
“I make an appeal to all of you to appear here next time to do what we were given to do at the time of Independence,” said Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.
Lok Sabha is a platform to raise issues for welfare of people: LS Speaker
“This Sabha is for a platform the raise issues for the welfare of the people. I understand that MPs have several issues they want to raise but they should keep in mind that the country has a variety of issues which need to be focused on,” said Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Ruckus in Lok Sabha
LS Speaker reminded the MPs that today was the last day of the second leg of the Budget Session, even though the MPs continued shouting.
Punjab Congress MPs protest in Parliament, demanding farm loan waiver
Punjab Congress MPs protest in Parliament premises demanding farm loan waiver. pic.twitter.com/Kjhg75H4sC
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
TDP MPs protest in Parliament demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs protest in Parliament premises demanding #SpecialStatus for #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/vJZRLRXphi
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
Karnataka Congress MPs protest in Parliament seeking constitution of Cauvery Management Board
Karnataka Congress MPs protest in Parliament premises against the constitution of #CauveryManagementBoard pic.twitter.com/zWHpVbRe6o
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
Karnataka Congress MPs protest in Parliament opposing constitution of Cauvery Management Board
Karnataka Congress MPs protest in Parliament premises against the constitution of #CauveryManagementBoard pic.twitter.com/zWHpVbRe6o
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
TDP MP Sivaprasad has consistently used different costumes as a sign of protest
TDP MP Naramalli Sivaprasad dresses up as Sage Vishvamitra to protest over the demand of special status for Andhra Pradesh. Sivaprasad has earlier dressed up as a woman, a washerman & a school boy among others #Delhi#BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/G8KfdBVwNs
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
Five YSRCP MPs to submit their resignation from Lok Sabha to Speaker
Both TDP and YSRCP heightened their protests today demanding special status of Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP, however, seems to have taken the lead in the Lok Sabha with five of its MPs likely to tender their resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, ANI said.
Five YSRCP MPs to submit their resignation from Lok Sabha to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. #SpecialStatus #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/2j5e7WclUA
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
Visuals from BJP parliamentary party meet
Delhi: Visuals from BJP Parliamentary Party Meeting. #BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/s6Uy7kck6s
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018
(Updates begin for 6 April)
YSRCP MP PV Midhun Reddy submits resignation from Lok Sabha: ANI
PJ Kurien says he can move motion to expel members protesting in Rajya Sabha
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said that he has an alternative to deal with the protests in the Upper House. “As per rule. I will see that a motion is moved to expel all protesting members. Thereby, you will lose all your voting right,” he told the protesting MPs.
Kurien went on to read the rules of the Rajya Sabha. “You are all eligible for suspension,” he said.
Lok Sabha reconvenes, AIADMK members protests continue
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to take up the no-confidence motion as the AIADMK continued protesting in the Lower House.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
Both the Houses of the Parliament were adjourned within minutes of reconvening on Thursday amid protests by the Opposition parties.
Subramanian Swamy refuses to forego salary
Asserting that he attended the House proceedings daily, Subramanian Swamy said that it isn’t his fault if the Parliament didn’t function. “Anyhow, I’m the president’s representative. Until he says so, how can I say I’ll not take my salary?” ANI quoted him as saying.
Sonia Gandhi, Rahul join Opposition protest in Parliament
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi have joined the Opposition protest in New Delhi against the Centre.
Congress had said on Wednesday that it would not mind if Parliament session was extended by a day or two, but a debate on key issues should take place. “We want to hold discussions on key issues of national importance and we also want to pass legislation. The government should take the lead in doing so. We are not averse even if the session is extended by a day or two,” Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had told reporters.
Delhi: Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi join joint opposition protest in Parliament against the government over bank scam issue, farmer crisis, no-confidence motion, SC/ST Protection Act and disinvestment of Air India among other issues. pic.twitter.com/nrIDBCTmjl
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
Opposition protests in Parliament premises over issues like farmer woes, SC/ST Protection Act
Leaders of several Opposition parties are holding a demonstration inside the Parliament premises over various issues.
Over a dozen Opposition parties had appealed to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday for holding discussion on key matters like the SC/ST Act, PNB bank fraud, CBSE paper leak and Cauvery issue. Opposition leaders, including from the Congress, BSP, SP, DMK, NCP, TMC and the Left parties, had met in Parliament to discuss the lack of debate.
Delhi: Opposition parties protest in Parliament against the government over bank scam issue, farmer crisis, no-confidence motion, SC/ST Protection Act and disinvestment of Air India among other issues. pic.twitter.com/9nBUdQUS0G
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
BJP, NDA MPs won’t take 23-day salary
BJP and NDA party MPs announced on Wednesday night that they will take a pay cut for the 23 days wasted in the second phase of the Budget Session as they accused the Congress party of playing negative politics.
Announcing the decision, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said it has been decided that the NDA MPs would be giving up their salary and other allowances for 23 days “for which parliament was not allowed to function by the Congress”.
‘You deprived the Dalits’
As Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad blamed the government for not listening to demands of Dalits, BJP’s Vijay Goel said it was the Congress who was actually being “anti-Dalit”.
“Let’s have a discussion in the House over who is anti-Dalit. You ruled the country for so long and deprived the Dalits of their basic needs. We brought many Acts in favour of Dalits. You did not even give Bharat Ratna to Bhimrao Ambedkar,” Goel said.
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