Uproar in Rajya Sabha over demonetisation continues in PM Narendra Modi’s presence

Opposition uproar over the demonetisation issue continued in Rajya Sabha on Thursday leading to two adjournments in the post-noon session even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained present in the House.

As Chairman Hamid Ansari called for the first question of the day at noon, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said while the Prime Minister has been addressing his party MPs in Parliament House and even speaking outside, the Opposition parties have been demanding his presence during the debate on demonetisation issue.

“We had been demanding for last 15 days (presence of PM).  ...We are against blackmoney. We want to speak on this issue but with whom? Our anguish is that the Prime Minister is holding weekly meetings with his MPs in Parliament House. He is also speaking outside. Our demand is that the Prime Minister should be here and listen to us,” Azad said.

When the senior Congress leader also alleged that the PM has remarked that the Opposition parties support blackmoney holders and said it was a “big allegation”, BJP members protested the remark.

Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu insisted that the House should continue with the debate on demonetisation, which started on November 16, the first day of the Winter Session.

Ansari also said that the debate has not been concluded and called the listed speaker A U Singh Deo (BJD) to start.

Sharad Yadav (JDU) said he too agreed that the debate should continue, but it “cannot be one-way traffic” and demanded that the Prime Minister should remain seated in the House all through the discussion.

“Why are you assuming that he (PM) will not participate,” Ansari asked the Opposition member.

As Singh Deo rose to put forth his points on demonetisation, Congress members started raising slogans like “Pradhan Mantri Mafi Maango (PM should apologise)” from the aisles.

Naidu said the Prime Minister is here and the unfinished debate should be resumed. However amid din, the House was adjourned for 15 minutes.

When it reassembled at 1229 hours, Congress members were again on their feet raising slogans as BJD member started the debate.

Amid noisy scenes, Deo said, “We support any move taken by the Government of India for corruption and black money.”

But as the sloganeering continued, Ansari adjourned the House till 1400 hours.