Logjam in Parliament continues over demonetisation

Demonetisation issue continues to disrupt proceedings in the Parliament with both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha witnessing adjournment till 2 pm as soon as the houses reassembled at noon after first adjournment. In Lok Sabha the opposition members including Congress, TMC and Left continued their protest demanding discussion on demonetisation under the rule that provides for voting. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to take up matters of public importance even as the opposition members continued to raise slogans. Later, Speaker adjourned the House till 2 PM.

Earlier, the House when assembled for the day, Opposition trooped into the Well shouting slogans even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present for a brief while. Mallikarjuna Kharge of Congress reiterated demand for discussion under the rule that entails voting. Parliamentary Affairs minister Anant Kumar said the Government has already agreed for a discussion under Rule 193 that disallows voting.

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned for the second time till 2 pm on demonetization issue. There was no change in the situation when the House reassembled at Noon after its first adjournment. Chairman Mohd Hamid Ansari tried to conduct Question Hour but in vain. Both the treasury and opposition benches indulged in slogan shouting forcing adjournment of the House.

Earlier, in the morning, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley charged the Opposition with creating ruckus under some pretexts. He recalled that the Government has readily agreed to the Opposition demand for a full-fledged debate on demonetization since day-one. He said most of the leaders have already participated in the debate. Mr Jaitley urged the opposition to continue the discussion that has already been initiated last month.

Prior to that, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged, 84 people in the last one month have died due to the Centre’s move. He asked how much of black money has come back into the financial system.

Naresh Aggarwal of Samajwadi Party said the Opposition is ready for discussion but in presence of Prime Minister. Ms Mayawati also made some remarks which could not be heard in the din. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said it is on record and urged the opposition to start discussion in which Prime Minister would take part. He adjourned the House as noisy scenes prevailed.