March 20, 2018: Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day, amidst opposition uproar. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, members from TRS and AIADMK trooped into the well raising slogans in support of their demands.
TRS members were demanding the increase in the reservation quota for jobs in Telangana while AIADMK members wanted the setting up of a Cauvery Management Board. Amid noisy scenes, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House within minutes after it met.
After the House met after its first adjournment, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj wanted to make a statement about the killing of 39 Indians. Amidst noise scenes, she spoke about the matching of DNA samples of 38 persons. However, the agitating opposition members did not yield to her repeated requests.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also appealed to the members to listen to the minister. Later, the speaker adjourned the House to meet again tomorrow amidst noisy scenes.In the Rajya Sabha, as soon as it met for the day, Mrs Swaraj made a statement about the killing of 39 Indians, who were reported missing for the last three years, in Iraq. Soon after her statement, members from AIADMK, TDP and others surged into the well raising slogans forcing Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House for the day.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the opposition wanted to run the House and discuss all issues including bank fraud and Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. He charged the government with not taking any initiative to break the logjam. Responding to it, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Vijay Goel said that the government was ready for discussion on any issue since the beginning.
While TDP and YSR Congress today continued their protests in Parliament House complex over demand for special status to Andhra Pradesh and other financial benefits to the state. The agitating members held separate protests raising slogans in support of their demands.
On the other hand, AIADMK members also staged a protest over the constitution of Cauvery Management Board. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress protested over the passage of the amendment in Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act in the Lok Sabha amidst the din. (AIR News)
