Parliament Winter Session: Rajya Sabha adjourned for day, Lok Sabha till noon after protests

Protests disrupted the proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament on Thursday as the Winter Session resumed after the four-day Christmas break. Opposition parties protested in the Rajya Sabha as well as in the Lok Sabha over various issues including construction of a dam on the Cauvery River, Rafale deal and violence in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district.

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any business after ruckus in the House over various issues.

While slogan shouting members of Tamil parties -- AIADMK and DMK trooped -- into the well of the House over construction of Mekadatu Dam on Cauvery River, Samajwadi Party and BSP members raised the issue of mob violence in Bulandshahr that left two dead, including an inspector rank police officer.

A couple of members from Andhra Pradesh too were in the well of the House demanding special status for the state. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said nothing that the protesting members were saying would go on record and then adjourned the proceedings for the day.

"As nobody seems to be interested I have no option but to adjourn the House for the day," he said before adjourning the proceedings till Friday.

The trouble started soon after the House mourned the death of its former members N Rajangam and Jai Narain Prasad Nishad and listed papers were presented to the House.

Members of Tamil parties shouted slogans from the well of the House seeking justice for the state over the Cauvery issue while SP and BSP members stood in their places raising the issue of Bulandshahr violence.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien too was up on his feet trying to a raise an issue but could not be heard in the din.

Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted as vociferous protests and sloganeering over various issues forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House till noon.

Despite repeated warnings from Mahajan, Congress, AIADMK and TDP members continued to stand in the Well of the House and sought to raise various issues, including Rafale deal.

Soon after the Question Hour began, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to raise the issue of Rafale deal but Mahajan said the matter can be raised during the Zero Hour.

Besides Congress members who were demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the deal, those from AIADMK protested against the construction of a dam across Cauvery River. TDP members sought to raise issues related to Andhra Pradesh.

As more than 30 members from the three parties continued to shout slogans and displayed placards while standing in the Well, Mahajan's repeated requests asking them to go back to their seats did not yield any result.

"I am warning you. Go back to your seats... I will be naming you," a visibly peeved Mahajan told protesting members.

"I want justice for all...," the Speaker said as she wanted the proceedings to continue.

Kharge said the government should be directed to constitute a JPC to look into the Rafale deal.

One question was taken up during the Question Hour, which went on for around 15 minutes.

As the din continued, Mahajan adjourned the House till noon. 

(With PTI inputs)