Lok Sabha adjourned for ninth straight day as Opposition continues protests
The YSR Congress decided to pass a no-confidence motion against the PM Narendra Modi-led government.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the ninth consecutive day on Thursday as Opposition parties including the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the Telugu Desam Party stormed the Well of the House, PTI reported. The parties raised demands about a number of issues such as the Punjab National Bank scam and special status to Andhra Pradesh.
YSRCP to move no-confidence motion against Centre
YSR Congress MP YV Subba Reddy handed over a notice to the Lok Sabha secretary-general, asking that a no-confidence motion be moved against the government. He asked for it to be included for business on Friday. The party took the decision over the Centre’s failure to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
When moved, this will be the first no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party President Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said his party will support the no-confidence motion “if necessary”, ANI reported. The party is scheduled to hold a politburo meeting on Friday.
First No-Confidence motion against BJP led NDA Govt to be moved in Lok Sabha tomorrow by YSR Congress MP Subba Reddy pic.twitter.com/TryPUFkeJd
— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) March 15, 2018
YSR Congress Party's YV Subba Reddy gives notice to Lok Sabha Secretary-General to move motion on 'No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers' , asks for it to be included in the list of business tomorrow.
— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2018
Bills passed
Despite the adjournments and the uproar, the Lower House passed two bills – the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill and the Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill – with a voice vote.
During the morning session, the Opposition MPs began protesting as soon as Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan initiated Question Hour. The lawmakers disrupted the proceedings when Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav was responding to a question on rural housing. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar urged the Opposition, including the Congress, to allow the House to function. Parliament, he added, is the “maha panchayat” of India. The protests forced the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings till 12 pm. Protests continued even after the House reconvened, which led the Lok Sabha to be adjourned for the day.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till Friday after the Congress vociferously protested against over former minister YS Chowdhary’s statement on the division on Andhra Pradesh, the The Economic Times reported.