Uproar cuts Budget session by a day

After a week-long impasse in both Houses of Parliament over the Nandigram issue, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today cut short the first part of the Budget session by a day. The Lok Sabha will now meet on April 26.

The House today saw two adjournments for almost five hours over the Nandigram issue. When it resumed at 4 pm, there was turmoil over the Cauvery water dispute, forcing the Speaker to adjourn proceedings for 30 minutes.

Leader of Opposition LK Advani had, in the morning, signalled that his party would not allow the House to function without a structured debate over Nandigram. He said the party would move an adjournment motion against the government on the issue.

The motion was, however, disallowed on the grounds that it was a state matter. At this, the BJP members rushed into the well and the House was adjourned till 4 pm.

At 4 pm, uproar started as soon as BJP member Ananth Kumar initiated discussion on the February five final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The agitated DMK members trooped into the well of the House, forcing an adjournment for 30 minutes.

The scene was no different when the House met half an hour later, as Chatterjee remarked, "It is unfortunate that no discussion is possible on the issue." He announced adjournment of the House till April 26.

Before the debate began, Chatterjee appealed to the members to discuss the contentious water-sharing issue in a dispassionate and responsible manner.

During the day, the Speaker said political parties had sought rescheduling of the Budget Session due to the announcement of seven-phase Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, to enable them to participate in election activities.

The first part of the Budget Session was originally scheduled to conclude tomorrow.

The Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day, would meet tomorrow.