Heated exchanges between AIADMK, Cong MPs after LS adjourns

AIADMK and Congress members today got into heated exchanges soon after the Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day, with some members of the southern party even seen charging menacingly towards Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal.

However, an untoward incident was averted as several members from other parties like the TMC, RJD and the Left immediately walked in and sought to pacify their peeved colleagues from the AIADMK, who were protesting in the Well demanding immediate setting up of the Cauvery river management board.

The unruly scenes were witnessed when some AIADMK members rushed towards the Opposition benches apparently in response to Congress leader K C Venugopal's remarks alleging that the Tamil Nadu party was "match fixing with the BJP" in not allowing the House to function and taking up the no-confidence motion.

As the AIADMK members moved towards Kharge, who was in the front row with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on his side, some Congress members, including Deepender Singh Hooda, came and stood in between forming a shield around Gandhi.

While Congress and various other parties have been pitching for a no-confidence motion against the government, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has not been able to take up the notices in this regard on account of protests, primarily by AIADMK and earlier by the TRS.

Today also, Mahajan said she would not be able to take up the notices as the House was not in order and adjourned the proceedings for the day.

Soon thereafter, Venugopal and some AIADMK members were engaged in a heated exchange of words apparently after the Congress leader's remarks about "match-fixing".

The remarks enraged the AIADMK members and some of them charged towards Venugopal, who was standing in the second row of the Opposition benches.

However, Sonia Gandhi, who was standing in the first row next to Kharge, intervened and was seen talking to Venugopal.

In the meantime, AIADMK members were near the front row and sought to heckle Kharge even as some Congress and other party members came and stood between them.

An AIADMK member was heard saying that the party was raising a "genuine issue" about drinking water for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Later coming out of the House, Kharge spoke to reporters and alleged that this was a "government-sponsored agitation" and it was instigating the AIADMK members to create ruckus so that the no-confidence motion is not taken up.

"The Speaker was claiming that she could not count members as there was ruckus in the well. Today, for her convenience we got placards showing the strength of more than 80 MPs.

"If the no-confidence motion is taken up, the government will be exposed and it will hurt its image as several issues, be it foreign or economic policies, as well as other issues will be taken up," Kharge said.

A no-confidence motion moved by a member requires at least 50 MPs to be present in the House and supporting it.