Government hopes to break Parliament logjam, opposition ready for protest

The government is hopeful that a debate on demonetisation in Parliament would start soon as back-channel talks with the opposition are on, informed sources said on Wednesday.

According to a senior Minister, back-room talks are on with the opposition. "We are hopeful the debate will start by the end of this week," the Minister said.

On the other hand, the opposition members were preparing to continue their protest and mark the completion of one month of the November 8 demonetisation on Thursday.

The sources said Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, at a Business Advisory Committee meeting, urged the opposition members to cooperate with the government in running the house.

Opposition leaders held a meeting at the room of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. They will stage another protest on Thursday in Parliament House complex and wear black bands to mark one month of demonetisation, an opposition leader said.

The Lok Sabha has been witnessing noisy disruptions since the second day of the winter session that commenced on November 16.

On the first day, the house was adjourned after obituary reference to Renuka Sinha, an MP from Cooch Behar.

On Tuesday, it was adjourned after paying tributes to late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Apart from these two days, the house has witnessed protests every single day, with the opposition pressing for a debate on demonetisation under a rule that entails voting.

The government is ready for a debate but does not want voting.

--IANS

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