New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day Thursday after witnessing continuous disruptions by the Congress on Rafale fighter jets deal.
However, before the final adjournment, the lower House managed to pass Consumer Protection Bill 2018 and the the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Both Bills were passed amid slogan shouting by the Congress members. They were demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal.
When the House reassembled at 2 p.m, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs moved the Consumer Protection Bill for passage and the same was passed after a brief discussion.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot then moved the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which was also passed within minutes.
Soon after the Bills were passed, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for the day.
Earlier, when the House reassembled in the noon, it was adjourned till 2 p.m amid uproarious scenes over the Rafale jets deal and the Cauvery water issue.
Immediately, the Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members trooped near the Speaker’s podium and started sloganeering.
The Congress members were holding placards seeking a JPC probe into the 36 ready-to-fly Rafale jets deal, while the TDP demanded special status for Andhra Pradesh.
Amid the din, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented a statement showing the Supplementary Demands for Grants-Second Batch for 2018-19.
He also introduced The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan then started the Zero Hour and allowed AIADMK’s P. Venugopal to speak, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress members from Karnataka protested against this.
Venugopal said the permission granted by the Central Water Commission (CWC) to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Megadatu on Cauvery river should be withdrawn.
He said the project would affect lakhs of farmers in the delta region in Tamil Nadu. He said the Tamil Nadu Assembly has already passed a unanimous resolution against the reservoir.
He accused that Karnataka tries to push through an irrigation project under the guise of a drinking water scheme.
This was countered by BJP’s Prahlad Joshi, saying the flow of water to the lower riparian state would not be affected by the new dam.
The Congress members from Karnataka held placards that read “Cauvery is our right, we support Megadatu”.
As the din continued, Mahajan adjourned the House till 2 p.m.
Earlier, when the House met for the day, the Congress, AIADMK and TDP members were on their feet. They trooped near the Speaker’s podium and raised slogans in support of their demands.
The Treasury benches too raised banners seeking an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Rafale deal.
Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.
Both Houses have been witnessing continuous disruptions over Rafale, Cauvery dispute and special status for Andhra Pradesh ever since the winter session started December 11.
IANS
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