Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.

The Lok Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned till 2 p.m. as AIADMK and TDP members created ruckus in support of their demands.

However, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan conducted the Zero Hour amid the protests and "The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018" was introduced.

Soon after the House reassembled at noon after the first adjournment, the AIADMK and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members trooped near the Speaker's podium and started sloganeering.

The AIADMK is protesting over the Cauvery water dispute while the TDP is demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Mahajan requested the protesting members to return to their seats but they did not relent.

As she asked BJP MPs to table the papers for the legislative business, AIADMK member G. HariA threw some torn papers and a file in the air.

Amid the din, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar Bill which was opposed by Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, Congress' Shashi Tharoor and Revolutionary Socialist Party leader N.K. Premchandran calling it a "violation of Supreme Court judgement".

"This is complete violation of the Supreme Court ruling. Why private agencies are being authorised to use Aadhaar for authentication?" Roy asked.

Expressing strong opposition against the bill, Tharoor said: "This bill enables private organisations to get Aadhaar details which is violation of Supreme Court judgement. The bill is immature in protecting the right of privacy. The bill must be withdrawn."

Saying the bill "fringes the right of privacy", Premchandran said: "Kindly see the definition of Aadhaar. The original Aadhaar definition has been changed... Since it is violation of Supreme Court judgement, I strongly oppose the bill."

Clarifying the importance of the bill, the Law Minister said: "It is not mandatory for all to give Aadhaar details for authentication or KYC... We are not violating the Supreme Court judgement."

The Speaker tried to conduct the legislative business but the agitating members continued their protest, forcing her to adjourned the House till 2 p.m.

Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, Mahajan wished the House a happy New Year and started the Question Hour amid the din.

Mahajan expressed dissatisfaction over the behaviour of the members and called it "unruly".

"This is not done. Please go to your seats. Your problem will not get resolved like this. You should talk to the Minister and not protest like this. You are not sending a good message to your constituencies too. This unruly behaviour is not proper," she said.

As the din continued, Mahajan adjourned the House till noon during Question Hour.

--IANS

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