Parl turbulence: Oppn onslaught falls flat as PM Modi avoids confrontation yet again

The massive onslaught by the opposition seems to have made no impact on the Centre, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to steer clear of the Parliament, resulting in the repeated adjournments of both Houses of the Parliament yet again today.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned with Opposition Congress members repeatedly trooping into the well of the House demanding Prime Minister's presence during debate on demonetisation of high value currency notes.

The House witnessed noisy scenes on the issue and it could not consider the Question Hour.

Deputy Chairman Prof. P J Kurien adjourned the House for 35 minutes till Noon. There was no improvement in the situation when the House re-assembled at Noon that forced Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the proceedings till 2 p.m.

Congress leader Anand Sharma alleged that government has created financial anarchy in the country by demonetisation and JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav reiterated his demand for payment of compensation to the kith and kin of those who reportedly died of trauma while queuing outside banks and ATMs.

BSP supremo Mayawati said the situation in the country is grim and the absence of Prime Minister in the House is an insult to democracy, while CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the government is answerable to the House and Parliament is answerable to the people.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following uproar by the opposition over demonetization issue.

When the House reassembled at noon after first adjournment, opposition members including Congress, TMC, Left and RJD demanded discussion on the issue under relevant rule which entails voting.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said, the government is ready for discussion on the issue.

He, however, expressed concern that no business was being transacted in the house since 17th of this month because of continued disruption by the opposition.

Earlier today, Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan speaker disallowed adjournment motion for demonetisation debate.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, while leaving the Parliament, said the grand old party wants a debate under the adjournment motion and the government is scared to allow that.

"The Speaker is refusing to give us a debate under an adjournment motion. Question is not whether Prime Minister sits there, question is, are we being allowed to speak? There are 200 MPs who are standing outside today, who want a debate to be allowed in the Lok Sabha," he told media.

"We want to have a debate on the adjournment motion because the adjournment motion is a motion which has an element of censure in it, we wanted Prime Minister's presence," said former Union minister Kamal Nath while leaving the Parliament.