Lok Sabha functions amid disruption

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed protests again over demonetisation after the opposition insisted on a debate with voting but the house functioned at the same time.

Opposition members kept raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and created a ruckus. Amid the din, however, the Question Hour went on for around half hour and all Zero Hour submissions were made.

The house was adjourned for the day minutes after it met at 2 p.m.

Soon after the house met at 11, opposition members were on their feet demanding a debate under Rule 184 that entails voting.

This is a climbdown from their earlier demand of a debate under Rule 56, the adjournment motion which is seen as a move to censor a government move.

A debate on the issue, however, began on Monday under Rule 193, which is for short duration discussion, after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed notices by Biju Janata Dal leader Bhartruhari Mahtab and Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader A.P. Jithender Reddy.

On Wednesday, the Question Hour went on for half hour before the Speaker adjourned it till noon.

The Speaker even dubbed the opposition protest a drama.

"This is an every day drama. If you want to debate, you can start the debate right now," she said.

When the house met at noon, the scene was no different.

However, even as the opposition members shouted slogans like "Modi sarkar hai hai", Mahajan continued with the Zero Hour submissions while the protests kept getting noisier.

The house was finally adjourned shortly before 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.

As soon as the house met at 2, opposition members again raised slogans demanding discussion with voting. Amid the din, the house was adjourned for the day.

--IANS

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