Lok Sabha proceedings disrupted again

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were disrupted for the seventh consecutive working day on Thursday amid sparring between opposition and treasury benches on the Rafale jet issue.

The House functioned for barely 10 minutes during the Question Hour when Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the proceedings till noon amid the din.

As soon as the Question Hour was taken up, members from the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party rushed to the Well raising slogans.

AIADMK members initially raised slogans from the aisle but later entered the Well.

While the Congress was demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal, the TDP was demanding setting up of a steel plant in Andhra Pradesh and special category status for the state.

The AIADMK was opposing construction of a dam over the River Cauvery.

BJP members hit back by seeking an apology from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for allegedly misleading people on the fighter jet deal. Some BJP members were seen holding placards in the aisle.

The first question was barely over when Mahajan adjourned the House till noon around 11.10 AM.

Thursday was the seventh working day of the Winter session which saw disruptions and adjournments over the Rafale jet seal, special status for Andhra Pradesh and protests over construction of a dam over Cauvery river.

Both Houses were adjourned for the day on day one of the session on December 11 after paying obituaries to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and some sitting members.

Since December 12, proceedings have been marred amid the din.