Parliament failed to function on its third day too thus keeping the no-confidence motion at bay.
Almost 84 Members of Parliament, including UPA’s very own men, have lost their confidence in the government. Since yesterday, there have been attempts by the TDP members to move the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. The prime opposition, BJP, too has been mulling over the option.
Today, Parliament failed to function for the third straight working day as members caused disruptions over a number of issues, including Telangana, thus preventing the notices for a no-confidence motion from being taken up.
Other issues that paralysed the proceedings were demands for granting scheduled caste status to 17 castes as well as death of children in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
The issue of scheduled caste status to 17 backward castes was raised in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by Samajwadi Party, apparently to counter the Muzaffarnagar issue being repeatedly raised by its main rival BSP.
In the Lok Sabha, placard-carrying DMK members were vociferous on the issue of seeking Katchathivu Island back from Sri Lanka and provide safety to Indian fishermen from the Lankan navy, as they shouted slogans in the Well.
Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) demanded removal of the UPSC Chairman and relaxation of certain norms for civil services examinations.
Members from Seemandhra carried posters which said ‘Save Andhra Pradesh’ and at one point, YSR Congress leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was also seen in the aisle, joining the cause.
Amidst all the uproar, the House could not take up three notices of no-confidence motion, given by R Sambasiva Rao (Cong) and five party MPs from Seemandhra region, M Venugopal Reddy (TDP) and YSR Congress member M Rajamohan Reddy, as part of their attempt to stall division of Andhra Pradesh.
This was because the House witnessed constant din and all attempts by Speaker Meira Kumar to bring it to order failed.
She said she was “duty bound” to bring the three notices of the no-confidence motion before the House but could not do so as the House was not in order.
However, the government has been constantly dismissing any threat in wake of plans by some anti-bifurcation Lok Sabha MPs, including those from Congress, to bring a no-confidence motion. Union Minister Kamal Nath said that the government has the numbers and the general elections will be held in May as per schedule.
He also said that so far only four members of TDP have given notice for the motion on which the Speaker Meira Kumar will take a decision as per the rules.
“There is some speculation that elections may be held earlier. This is absolutely wrong. The UPA government will complete its full term and elections will be held as per its schedule in May.
“The government has the numbers and any no-confidence motion will not succeed…The government has majority. So the question of any no-confidence motion succeeding does not arise,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister told reporters outside Parliament.
With its bitter loss in the assembly elections of four states, especially in Delhi, the Congress party has come under severe attack from all sides for its policies. The Parliament has not been able to transact any business in three days and it is likely that the winter session will be cut short.
The government has heaps of bills to pass in this short winter session but now it is revising its vote-mongering formula and refraining from any drastic step made in haste.
