‘No change’ in Parliament logjam

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned without transacting any business on Wednesday.

In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition continued to demand a discussion on demonetisation that entails voting, while in the Rajya Sabha, a ruckus erupted after their insistence on the passage of a condolence message for those who died of the alleged effects of demonetisation, and due to Tuesday’s terror attack on the Nagrota army base.

In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay and BJD’s leader in the House Bhartruhari Mahtab said the motion on the distress to people due to the government’s demonetisation decision should be put to vote. “You (Speaker Sumitra Mahajan) decide on any rule that involves discussion and voting. We are ready. We are not running away from a debate,” said Kharge.

In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the people of the country were with the government on its action against black money, and that by resorting to voting Parliament would be sending a message of division on the issue.

In the Rajya Sabha, the ruckus began with the Opposition demanding that the House pass a condolence message on the death of 82 persons, allegedly due to post-demonetisation hardships. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, along with the obituary reference for the seven army personnel killed by terrorists at Nagrota army base, the House should mourn the death of those who died because of the “wrong policies of the government”. “It is a serious issue if we are not ready to pay homage to brave soldiers and those who died because of the wrong policies of the government,” he said.

Sharad Yadav of the JD(U) locked horns with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the currency issue. When Yadav began speaking, Jaitley asked him to check ascertain if his own party, the JD(U) was against demonetisation, or for it. The FM was alluding to Bihar CM and JD(U) National President Nitish Kumar’s statements in favour of the Centre’s move. “We are not against demonetisation. We are against the restrictions that have been placed,” Yadav said, and added: “Is your Prime Minister with you? Is he listening to you?”

Meanwhile, outside the House, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi said the Centre was helping black money hoarders with its amendment to the Income Tax Act passed on Monday. “The government has given 50 per cent of the black money back to hoarders again,” he said. Justifying the walkout by the Opposition, he said: “There is a practice in Parliament that whenever someone dies, we respect them. This is for the first time that no such obituary was offered for soldiers who had died.”

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Congress was playing over an issue that involved the defence of the country. “The Speaker informed that combing operations are underway in Nagrota. Once operations are over, tribute will be paid in the House to the soldiers,” he said.

“Rahul Gandhi can say these things inside the House also. Why is he shying away from the debate? If he is more comfortable reading his statement, read that also. But after so many days, today they walked in and they walked out. Are they interested in the debate?” asked Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.