The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday, with the opposition continuing to storm the well of the house within minutes of the start of proceedings. It was identical to the way the house functioned —or did not function—all of last week, when the Parliament reassembled after the recess in the course of the Budget session.
The only difference on Monday was the presence of the AIADMK members also at the well, while the Congress MPs were protesting from their seats, where they were on their feet.
As on most days last week, the Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, initially adjourned the house for an hour or more, but adjourned it for the day at noon.
Much of the protest was over issues pertaining to the PNB and Nirav Modi scam wherein the opposition members have maintained that the 'chowkidar' let the culprit escape—implying Prime Minister Narendra Modi let Nirav escape.
The AIADMK is seeking a higher share in Tamil Nadu's allocation of Cauvery waters.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) are demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
The government was to have introduced the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, largely to address issues of people like Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, who escaped the country, leaving huge bank frauds and debts. The bill provides for attachment of property overseas, among other things.
To ensure that the non-banking financial space does not end up with similar problems, the government was to introduce the Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Both these were cleared by the Cabinet a few days ago, and sources in the BJP said they could have helped take the wind out of such protests.
The government was also to discuss and vote on the demand for grants by the railways ministry, and the Payment of Gratuity( Amendment) Bill was to be considered for passage.