A distraught LK Advani on Thursday said he “felt like resigning”, adding that “adjourning the Lok Sabha sine die without a discussion on the note ban issue would send a wrong signal”.
The BJP leader’s remarks came soon after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House on the penultimate day of the Winter Session, after noisy protests by the Opposition on the note ban and allegations by the BJP benches of Congress’ involvement in the AgustaWestland copter scam.
Later, reacting to the BJP veteran’s remarks, Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Thank you Advaniji for fighting for democratic values within your party.” With the Winter session heading for a wash-out, Advani had last week, too, given vent to his anguish on the lack of smooth functioning of the House due to repeated adjournments.
On Thursday, after the House was adjourned, an upset Advani remained seated and was seen speaking with Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who drew Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s attention.
Advani was heard telling Singh that “Parliament should not be adjourned sine die without discussion,” adding that a washed out session would bring a bad name to Parliament.
“Parliament should be seen as having discussed the matter (note ban),” he was overheard telling Singh, asking him to ensure that the Speaker talks with Opposition leaders and the Treasury benches so that the last day (Friday) can see some discussion under whatever rule. “No one should see it as a victory or defeat for his side”, he added.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, who had earlier targeted the Opposition for “running away” from a discussion, had by then left the House.
Advani was later seen expressing his dismay while talking to a few BJP members, including Nana Patole, as well as Idris Ali of the Trinamool Congress.
Ali told reporters the BJP veteran rued that had “Atalji (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) been there, he would have been hurt,” by the lack of Parliament’s smooth functioning.
During the Winter Session, which began on November 16, the government had listed 10 key Bills for discussion and passage, including one on Goods and Services Tax, but has been unable to transact much business due to disruption of proceedings and repeated adjournments, with the Opposition seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s explanation for his decision to ban ₹500/1,000 notes that has impacted the poor amid a massive cash shortage.
While the government has said the Prime Minister is ready to participate in a discussion, the two sides have failed to agree on which rule to follow – with or without a vote.
The Opposition this week softened its stance and said it was ready to debate under any rule. “We are not running away. People are suffering because of the note ban. Only one day is left, so you should hold the discussion right away,” Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told the Speaker on Thursday.
At a press conference later, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “How can any party in the world with 323 majority (out of 543) in the Lok Sabha stand up with placards and ask a question, whether it is Agusta (chopper scam) or anything else, before the Opposition which is asking for a debate?”