Lok Sabha adjourns till 2 pm amid protests by AIADMK, TDP

The government on Wednesday introduced the Aadhaar and other laws amendment bill in Lok Sabha which adjourned soon after till 2 pm amid continuing protests by members of the AIADMK and the TDP over various issues.

Immediately after the House reconvened at noon, AIADMK and TDP members trooped into the Well with placards and started shouting slogans. The AIADMK was protesting construction of a dam across the Cauvery river, while the TDP was demanding special financial assistance for Amravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Despite the request from Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, the members continued their protest and some of them flung torn pieces of papers towards the table where Lok Sabha secretariat officials sit during proceedings.


A visibly peeved Mahajan sought names of the unruly members. As per rules, if the Speaker names a member over objectionable conduct, than the member has to leave the House immediately.

"Please go to your seat," Mahajan told the protesting members.

Amid the ruckus, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The amendment would provide legal backing for seeding of biometric ID Aadhaar with mobile numbers and bank accounts as an optional KYC (know your customer) after the Supreme Court barred mandatory use of the 12-digit unique identification number by private firms.

Earlier, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon following protests by members from the AIADMK and the TDP.

Soon after the House convened for the day, members from the AIADMK trooped into the Well. Later, members from the TDP also joined them.

Around 30 members from both the parties were in the Well.

As soon as the AIADMK members started their protest, Mahajan said that their problem would not be solved like this and asked them to discuss the issue with the minister concerned.

"I don't think it sends the right message to your state... this unruly behaviour must stop," she told the protesting members.

A question related to vacancies in lower judiciary was taken up during the Question Hour, which went on for around 20 minutes.

As the din continued, Mahajan adjourned the proceedings till noon.