Lok Sabha adjourned, government fails to break logjam

Pandemonium over the demonetisation decision continued in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, forcing the adjournment of the house for the day. The government efforts to break the logjam failed to cut much ice with opposition lawmakers.

The chair adjourned the lower house of Parliament after the Question Hour was washed out due to opposition uproar and acrimonious scenes over its demand for a debate under the house rule governing an adjournment motion.

The house was first adjourned soon after it met at 11 a.m., and then for the day shortly after 12 noon as opposition members continued to create ruckus.

Shortly after the house met, opposition members trooped near Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's podium and raised slogans against the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

The Speaker requested the protesting members to return to their seats, but they refused.

Samajwadi Party leader Akshay Yadav tore papers and hurled these towards the Speaker's podium and table of the house, when the Question Hour was in progress.

The house was then adjourned till 12 noon.

When the house reassembled, the Speaker reprimanded Yadav for his conduct.

"This conduct of Akshay Yadav is in gross violation of the norms of standards and etiquittes laid down under Rules and Conventions of the house. This conduct is not proper on the part of the member and also for the dignity and prestige of the house," Mahajan said.

Expressing her "displeasure", the Speaker warned Yadav to refrain from such activities in future.

"While expressing my grave displeasure over the conduct of Akshay Yadav, I warn him to refrain from such disorderly acts in future," she said.

Mahajan then disallowed the notices for adjournment motions to hold debate on demonetisation, leading to a huge uproar in the opposition benches.

The Speaker then adjourned the house for the day.

Earlier, lawmakers condoled the demise of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Naresh Yadav, and renowned singer-composer and Carnatic musician M. Balamuralikrishna.

Earlier, the government's attempt to break the logjam failed as leaders of the opposition parties did not turn up for an informal meeting convened in Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's chamber in Parliament House.

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Speaker Sumitra Mahajan calls a meet, the opposition parties will attend it.

--IANS

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