Proceedings in both Houses were disrupted for the seventh day even though discussion over demonetization resumed briefly when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the Rajya Sabha yesterday before lunch. Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2: 30 PM after uproar in the House as Opposition storms the well demanding PM’s apology over his remark and the Lok Sabha adjourned for the day.
The deadlock in Parliament continues today also as both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments following uproar by the opposition parties over the issue. As soon as the Lok Sabha met, Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress questioned the Prime Minister’s reported remark that those criticising the demonetisation process do not have any problem with the preparedness, but have a problem that they did not have the time to prepare themselves.
Members belonging to other opposition parties including TMC, Left, RJD and AIADMK trooped into the well of the House raising slogans against Prime Minister and demonetisation. Earlier, the House took up question hour.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed two adjournments on the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on black money in the pre-lunch session. When the House re-assembled after its first adjournment at Noon, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said that prime minister has made an accusation against entire Opposition.
Strongly opposing Mr. Azad’s remark, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the question of apology does not arise and charged the Opposition with running away from the discussion on demonetisation. As uproarious scenes continued, Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till 1430 hrs.
Hitting out at those accusing the government of not being prepared for demonetisation, earlier speaking at Constitutional Day function in Parliament House, Modi said they are actually pained that they themselves did not get time to make any preparation. Had these people got even 72 hours, they would have lavished praise, he said a day after the opposition launched a massive attack on the government over the issue.
