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Budget Session of Parliament updates: Opposition protests continued to disrupt Lok Sabha proceedings when it resumed session at 12 pm, forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the proceedings for the day. AIADMK and TDP MPs stormed the Well while chanting slogans. The no-confidence motion notices couldn’t be taken up as well as the House was not in order. Just as the Rajya Sabha passed the amendments to the Gratuity Act, AIADMK and TDP MPs trooped into the Well holding placards and created a ruckus. Nearly 20 MPs stood in the Well surrounding Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, and chanting loud slogans, forcing him to adjourn House proceedings till Friday, 11 am. Protests and sloganeering marked the day’s proceedings in the Lok Sabha as it began on Thursday. Opposition MPs could be heard chanting “We want justice” in the background, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct the day’s business. As the protests grew louder, she said, “Nobody wants to listen, nobody wants to run the House.” She then adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12 pm. MPs from the Telugu Desam PArty (TDP) held protests inside the Parliament premises on Thursday demanding a special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The proceedings in Parliament were washed out for the 13th consecutive day on Wednesday as members of some parties like the AIADMK and TRS continued with their noisy protests, with the Lok Sabha unable 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. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the Rajya Sabha in four minutes after the start of proceedings as members of Andhra parties, including TDP, and KVP 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. [caption id=“attachment_4395387” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Parliament. PTI[/caption] 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. “Go back to your respective seats and raise issues,” Naidu said, adding he was willing to allow members to raise issues from their seat and asked them not to shout slogans. Asking if the MPs wanted images of disruption to be seen by the nation, he said “is this Parliament or something else? … I am sorry this is not the way.” Thereafter, he adjourned the proceedings for the day. This is the third day that Naidu has adjourned the proceedings for the day right after the House assembled. On Tuesday, the Chairman had called it a day right after Swaraj had made a statement on the issue of abducted Indians in Iraq. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not transacted any substantial business since the Budget session of Parliament resumed on 5 March, barring the passage of the Union Budget by the Lower House without any debate. The Lok Sabha proceedings were first disrupted right after it had assembled with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourning the proceedings for an hour due to protests by parties from Andhra within about four minutes. At noon, 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 is 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 said. 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 cannot 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, as she said as she can’t see anything from the Chair. 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 is not in order, she cannot move ahead with the issue and adjourned the House for the day. At least 50 members have to support the motion before it is moved, for which a headcount is needed to be carried out. While the AIADMK has been seeking early establishment of the Cauvery river board to settle the water dispute with neighbouring states, the TRS is demanding hiked quota for jobs in Telangana and the TDP wants special status for Andhra Pradesh. Expelled RJD member Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was also seen holding a placard demanding special status for Bihar. With inputs from PTI
Parliament updates: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned for day as AIADMK, TDP MPs create ruckus in both Houses
A stormy day is expected in the Parliament on Thursday, where proceedings were washed out for the 13th consecutive day on Wednesday as members of some parties like the AIADMK and TRS continued with their noisy protests
 "Parliament updates: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned for day as AIADMK, TDP MPs create ruckus in both Houses")
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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