Ruckus continues to mar Lok Sabha proceedings; adjourns till noon

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha continued to witness disruption on the last day of the Winter Session today, with the Opposition protesting over demonetisation issue and targeting the government for making bribery allegations in AgustaWestland chopper deal, leading to adjournment till noon.

With no let up in the gridlock between the Opposition and the government, high pitch protests and sloganeering erupted soon after the House met for the day.

Members from the Congress and the TMC trooped into the Well shouting slogans, including demand for a discussion on demonetisation.

Congress members sought to raise the issue of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Thursday raking up allegations of bribery in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal during the erstwhile UPA regime.

With Speaker Sumitra Mahajan not giving permission, agitated Congress members began protesting.

"We were ready for discussion since yesterday", but the Parliamentary Affairs Minister had made "reckless charges", Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said referring to the AgustaWestland issue.

As the din continued, a visibily irritated Mahajan wondered whether the Opposition did not want work done today also as she adjourning the proceedings till noon.

Even as the uproar continued, one question was taken up during the Question Hour. However, nothing much could be heard in the din.

TMC members, who were in the Well, were also protesting against demonetisation.

The House has seen a virtual washout of proceedings since the Session began on November 16.