Rafale din brings House down

Stormy disruptions and heated exchanges continued to mar proceedings of Parliament on Tuesday as both Houses were adjourned amid a din on Rafale issue and protests by AIADMK and DMK on the Karnataka's plan to build Mekedatu Dam on Cauvery River. The upper and lower House saw members move into the well with placards. The government also introduced National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in Lok Sabha even as the disruptions continued.

In Rajya Sabha, chairman M Venkaiah Naidu appealed to members that he wished to see a debated on issues of price rise, farm crisis and Cyclone Titli. However, soon after papers were tabled in the House, AIADMK and DMK members trooped into the well of the House to protest on the Cauvery issue.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the privilege motion should be taken up and added that the government had misled the Supreme Court and Parliament on the Rafale deal.

A heated exchange followed between the opposition and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said the government was willing and ready to discuss each and every issue including Rafale, but the Congress was not ready. With the members refusing to stop their protest, Naidu adjourned the House till 2pm.

Similar scenes were seen after the House resumed business. Congress leader Anand Sharma moved a point of order and said that Goel had earlier sought an apology from Rahul Gandhi who was not a member of the House and thus it was against the Rules. In response to Sharma's statement, even the treasury benches waved placards, demanding an apology from Gandhi on the Rafale allegations.

In Lok Sabha, after proceedings began, members of AIADMK, DMK and Congress moved into the well of the House with placards. The parties from Tamil Nadu held placards seeking justice for the farmers and protesting against Karnataka's dam project while Congress demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Rafale jets deal. As the din continued, Shiv Sena MP Sunil Gaikwad asked a question regarding garlic production during the Question Hour.

From the treasury benches, BJP members countered the opposition's protest and demanded an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his allegations against the Prime Minister on Rafale deal.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon. After the proceedings resumed, opposition members began disruptions again. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that government was discussions. "This does not send a good message and we have to face the public," she said.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that a JPC should probe the Rafale deal and every file on the matter should be scrutinized. Mahajan, however, said JPC was not under her purview. The House was soon adjourned till Wednesday morning.