Parliament adjourns as opposition refuses to back down

Parliament was adjourned on Monday after the opposition refused to halt its protest over the Center's demonetisation drive.

The day's proceedings in both Houses-Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw noisy scenes and a cross-trading of verbal's between the treasury and opposition benches.

Earlier in the day, both the houses of the Parliament was adjourned twice following uproar by the opposition.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the prolonged impasse will end only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi throws light on his decision to demonetise high-value currency notes in the Lok Sabha.

"More than 70 people have died and more than 1,000 people have been injured. This deadlock can only end when the PM comes for discussion in the house," said Kharge in the Lok Sabha.

Retorting to the opposition attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre is ready to debate and added that the Prime Minister will speak on demonetisation if needed.

"If you have a complaint on implementation then we are ready to debate, don't doubt our integrity. You want PM to come to Lok Sabha for this debate then he will and he will make an intervention," Singh said.

Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded discussion over the over to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in both the houses, but in the presence of the Prime Minister since he announced the move.

"If Prime Minister makes a big announcement; protocol is that he gives statement on first day of the Parliament. It is happening for the first time that the prime minster hasn't followed that," he said.

Minister of states for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi while defending its party said that the government is ready for discussion like always but the oppositions is not letting the house function.

"You failed with your 'Aakrosh Diwas' on the streets, so now you are disrupting the House proceedings. Talk and discuss, why shout and not let anything function?" Naqvi asks in the Rajya Sabha.

Meanwhile Congress leader Anand Sharma said that the Banking Act and the Constitution doesn't give Prime Minister or Finance Minister the power to deprive people access to their own money or ration it.

"Even the Constitution does not allow the Prime Minister or the government to deprive the citizens of their money and property, especially bank accounts. Not one Bill was tabled in the House. The Prime Minister and the government must answer," he said.

Till now none of the houses of the Parliament have been able to conduct any business on the ongoing winter session.