Day 2: Cauvery, Rafale protests stall Parliament

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 13

Ruckus continued in both Houses of Parliament for the second consecutive day today as Opposition MPs resorted to vociferous protests. Virtually no business could be transacted as both Houses were adjourned.

Alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal and Ram Mandir issue dominated the day in the Lok Sabha. Raising slogans against the government over the Rafale deal and demanding a JPC probe, Congress members trooped into the well. Members belonging to Left parties, RJD, NCP and others were also on their feet.

AIADMK MPs protested against the construction of a dam across the Cauvery, while TDP members raised slogans seeking financial benefits to Andhra Pradesh under the State Reorganisation Act of 2014. At one stage, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan even had to warn the TDP members.

Shiv Sena members were also in the well, demanding the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Amid noisy scenes, the Speaker adjourned the House just after 12 noon.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed protests demanding protection of Cauvery Delta farmers in Tamil Nadu leading to the adjournment for the day. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu repeatedly pleaded with the agitating members to allow the House function, but in vain. Both Houses paid tribute to 2001 Parliament terror attack victims.

Plea to disqualify BJP MP 

• Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has forwarded a complaint seeking disqualification of Harish Meena, a sitting BJP MP from Rajasthan who contested on Congress ticket in the recently held state Assembly election, for appropriate action to the lower house's secretariat
• Meena joined the Congress on November 14 without resigning from the BJP and from his Lok Sabha seat, BJP MP Narendra Keshav Sawaikar alleged in his complaint filed with the Speaker on November 29
• Meena was elected as MLA from Deoli-Uniara in the December 7 Assembly election. Till the filing of his petition, Harish Meena had not resigned from the primary membership of the BJP and as the Lok Sabha MP