Ruckus in Lok Sabha stalls no-trust motion

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 19

The notices of motion of no-confidence against the government in Lok Sabha by Andhra Pradesh MPs could not be taken up on Monday as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan ruled that the “House was not in order” owing to noisy protest by members of several other parties, which then resulted in a washout of proceedings on the 11th day in a trot of the second leg of the Budget session.

Earlier amid din, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government was ready for discussion on any issue, including on the no-confidence motion. “We are ready to discuss any issue, which members want. I appeal to agitating members to go back to their seats and allow the chair to take up the no-confidence motion. The government is ready to face it,” he said.

The notices for the motion have been given by YSR Congress member YV Subba Reddy and two members of the TDP. Both parties have been demanding a special package for Andhra Pradesh, an issue on which the TDP quit the ruling NDA alliance last week.

As soon as the House met for Zero Hour after the Question Hour was washed out, members from TRS and AIADMK trooped into the Well. While the TRS was demanding a rise in quota, the AIADMK was pressing for immediate setting up of the Cauvery river management board.

The Speaker also repeatedly asked more than 25 members from the AIADMK and TRS, who were protesting inside the Well, to return to their seats. As the uproar continued, Mahajan said she was duty-bound to take up the notices for no-confidence motion but could not do so as the House was not in order. Earlier members from the TDP, YSR Congress, TRS and AIADMK protested over various issues, including the banking scam, leading to adjournment till noon.