Budget Session headed for washout

The budget session of Parliament remained paralysed for the 20th consecutive day as both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned without transacting any substantive business as Opposition members pressed for setting up of a Cauvery Management Board and granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

AIADMK members trooped into the Well of the Lok Sabha soon after it convened for the day on Wednesday and raised slogans prompting Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to call off the Question Hour.

In the Rajya Sabha, a united Opposition thwarted the government's attempts to pass the amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act amid the din.

At noon, when the Lok Sabha reconvened, AIADMK members were back in the Well raising slogans for setting up the Cauvery Management Board.

TDP and YSRCP members stood in their allotted seats and demanded special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Congress members too stood in their seats and raised slogans.

The Speaker urged AIADMK members to return to their seats, saying she will not be able to take up notices on the no-confidence motion unless the House was in order.

"I am duty-bound to place the no-confidence motion. Please go to your seats. I have to do a head count. I have not been able to take up notices on the no-confidence motion," she said, reading out the names of 11 members who had submitted separate notices for a no-confidence motion against the Modi government.

As the unrelenting AIADMK members continued their sloganeering, the Speaker said that she was not in a position to take up notices for no-confidence motion and announced adjournment of the House for the day.

Citing Assembly polls in Karnataka, the Centre had last week sought more time from the Supreme Court to set up the Cauvery water management board to implement water sharing formula among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.