LS adjourned for day, no-confidence motion not taken up

The Lok Sabha was once again unable to take up the no-confidence motion notices given by opposition MPs amid ruckus on the penultimate day of the Budget Session, the second half of which appears to be headed for a washout.

So far there are no signs of the logjam getting resolved.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, meanwhile, again blamed the Congress for disruptions, and also announced that MPs of the ruling party and allies would not take allowances for the days the House did not function.

The first adjournment came in less than two minutes of the House meeting at 11 a.m., when Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned it till 12 p.m.

When the House reassembled at 12 p.m., MPs from the AIADMK and others trooped near the Speaker's podium, showing placards and shouting "we want justice".

Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition wanted debate.

"We want to have a debate... Don't say the Congress does not want a debate," Kharge said referring to statements by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Kharge was supported by other opposition leaders who said they wanted to participate in a debate.

Blaming the Congress, Kumar said: "If the House is not functioning... Congress, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are to be blamed."

"We are not taking allowances for 23 days. This is public service and it is public money..." he said.

A huge uproar was heard from Congress benches as the Minister made his remarks, and soon after Speaker Mahajan once again tried to take up the no-confidence motion.

With the ruckus continuing, the Speaker said she was unable to ascertain how many MPs were in support of the motion, and adjourned the House for the day.

This is the last week of the Budget Session, which started on January 29 and went on break on February 9.

The Session was resumed post break on March 5, and is to conclude on April 6 (Friday). The post-break part of the Session has witnessed a logjam in the House, which has not transacted any major business, and the Budget as well as few bills were passed without debates in din.

--IANS

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