Congress Moves No-confidence Motion Against Modi Government in Lok Sabha, Parliament Logjam Continues

The impasse in both the Houses of Parliament on Friday continued and Parliament failed to transact any business for the 15th consecutive working day.

New Delhi, Mar 23: After the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSRCP, the Congress party on Friday move no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in Lok Sabha. “This House expresses no confidence in the Council of Ministers,” read the notice tabled by Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Congress in the lower House. Yesterday, MPs of YSRCP and TDP had filed fresh notices for the motion and met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan seeking an immediate debate on giving special state status to Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier today, the impasse in both the Houses of Parliament continued and Parliament failed to transact any business for the 15th consecutive working day. Protests started as soon as the House met with members from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the AIADMK trooping near the Speaker’s podium. Congress members protested from their seats over the Supreme Court verdict on the SC/ST Act. The AIADMK and the TRS have been paralysing the House with protests, pressing for their demands for setting of Cauvery Water Management Board and increase in the reservation quota for jobs in Telangana.

As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon. The scene was no different when it met again, with Mahajan urging the protesting members to return to their seats so that the no-confidence motion could be taken up. As the protests continued, Mahajan announced that March 26 will be a holiday on account of Ram Navami, before adjourning the House for the day. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid vociferous protests by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the AIADMK and the Congress on different issues.

Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu urged the government to reach out to the agitating parties and also asked “all sections of the House” to introspect and let the House function. Soon after the House met, Naidu expressed his anguish over the continued disruption and hoped it would function from Monday as there was a long list of pending Bills before adjourning the proceedings for the day. “We have a long list of business. I hope the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the government will also take into confidence the members of different political parties and come to some understanding by Monday. At least the House should run and have all this business,” the Chairman said.

Earlier in the day, Naidu said: “Today (Friday) we are completing three weeks (of logjam). During my long stint in public life, I have seen very few distressing events as the present one. Rajya Sabha, the House of elders, could not discharge the mandated duties for three weeks. As the Chairman, I tried everything that I could but no result. “All sections of the House need to introspect as to why as the Upper House of Parliament, we have let down the people of the country for three long weeks.”

Naidu said that persisting with disruptions for three weeks had no justification. He said he had been getting queries from the public as to why the House was not being adjourned sine die. “Will the next week be any different? I am sad to note that I would not like to hazard any guess. I leave it to the leaders and honourable members of Parliament of all sides to reflect and decide if you are going to change for better… It is for you to rekindle the hope. You have to decide,” the Chairman said.

The Upper House has witnessed disruptions over different issues including demands for special status to Andhra Pradesh, setting up of the Cauvery Management Board and the multi-thousand crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud since March 5 when Parliament reassembled for the budget session after recess. (With IANS inputs)