Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 over demonetisation

Verbal slugfest between ruling alliance and opposition creates ruckus in the House

The Rajya Sabha witnessed two quick adjournments before lunch on Wednesday as the logjam on the demonetisation issue continued.

The house was first adjourned amid chaos minutes after it met for the day at 11 a.m.

As the house reassembled, Leader of Opposition Gulam Nabi Azad said over 80 people have died ever since demonetisation was introduced on November 8.

"I want to ask, who is responsible for these deaths," Azad said, adding that accountability should be fixed for them.

Azad said the scheme was brought in without any preparation.

Naresh Agarwal of Samajwadi Party also criticised the government for "paralysing the country".

Expressing similar views, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had for asked 50 days to fix the problems arising due to demonetisation, but nothing seems to be changing.

Reacting to Mayawati's remarks, the members from the Treasury bench created ruckus in the house.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked the members to maintain silence.

Responding to the charges, Leader of House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Opposition was running away from the debate on the issue.

"The issue is important and that's why the debate should be completed (on it)," he said.

The government MPs then started shouting slogans against the Opposition saying "if they have guts let the debate take place".

As the house reassembled at noon, Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari requested members to start proceedings of the Question Hour but the government MPs again shouted slogans against the Opposition.

Allegations and counter allegations were levelled from both the sides, resulting in ruckus.

Ansari then adjourned the house till 2 p.m.