Lok Sabha adjourns amid protests on Rafale, Cauvery

Lok Sabha proceedings lasted barely for an hour on Tuesday as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan journed House for day amid slogan-shouting and protests by treasury and opposition benches over a range of issues, including Rafale deal.

As House met at 11 AM, Congress members rushed into Well with placards in ir hand and raised slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into Rafale deal.

re were more than 30 members from AIMK, TDP and Congress in Well during Question Hour.

TDP members were demanding special status for Andhra Presh while AIMK MPs were protesting against a dam on Cauvery river.

In din, only one question related to production of garlic was taken up. Even as Agriculture Minister Rha Mohan Singh was responding to supplementary questions, BJP members continued sloganeering on Rafale issue.

BJP members were demanding an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi. House proceedings barely lasted for five minutes and it was journed till on.

As House re-convened at on, protests continued.

In melee, National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was introduced in House.

Upset with disruption of proceedings, Mahajan said members were well aware that this was an important session as everyone will face elections after this. She said government was rey for discussion, but ruckus continued.

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"This does t send a good mess and we have to face public," she said.

Mahajan lamented that people from or countries were questioning as to "what was happening in our country".

"I got a mess that school kids are better than us. Are we worse than school kids?" she said.

Congress leer Mallikarjun Kharge said even y were rey for discussion, but demanded formation of a JPC to probe Rafale deal so that every file related to matter can be scrutinised.

To this Mahajan said that constitution of JPC was t under her purview.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said Supreme Court verdict has me things clear, indicating that re was need for a JPC on controversial issue.

Unahppy with response, Congress members again started raising slogans, following which House was journed for day.

lower house has been witnessing daily disruptions since winter session began last week. It h passed a bill on trans rights on December 17.

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