Rajya Sabha adjourned amid opposition pandemonium

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day minutes after lunch on Monday as it could not conduct any meaningful business amid a opposition pandemonium over demonetisation and its aftermath.

The upper house witnessed chaos and repeated disruptions earlier on the issue and the 'Aakrosh Divas' protests by a combined opposition against the government's November 8 decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

The opposition members, who have been demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the house during debate on demonetisation, reiterated the demand.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said it was for the first time that no statement has been made by the government in either of the two houses of Parliament on such an important policy matter.

"This has happened for the first time that the Prime Minister has made no statement in either house. This (issue) should be debated in both the houses," he said.

The Congress leader also demanded Modi's presence during debate in Parliament since demonetisation was his decision.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said the Constitution or any law did not give authority to the Prime Minister to deprive people access to their own money or property.

"Even in financial emergency, the Prime Minister can't do so," he said, adding that demonetisation was "illegal".

Sharma wanted a ruling on the issue from the Chair, but was told by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien that it was not possible since it was under discussion in the upper house.

In response, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Prime Minister will come to the house and reply to the discussion.

The opposition members did not listen to him and kept on shouting slogans against Modi and the central government.

The Chair then adjourned the house for the day.

Both the houses of Parliament have seen a spate of disruptions over the fiscal chaos in the wake of demonetisation since the winter session began on November 16.

--IANS

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