RS passes Motion of Thanks on President's address amid protests

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Motion of Thanks on President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of Parliament, amid protests from opposition members.

The motion was passed by the House by a voice vote.

CPI-M member Sitaram Yechury insisted that the government must include the deaths of common people, who died while standing in queues across the country after demonetisation.

CPI senior member D. Raja said that he should be allowed to "explain" the amendments he had moved to the address, but was refused by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien.

Kurien said "You cannot make a speech after Prime Minister's reply on the presidential address."

Trinamool Congress members staged a walkout before the motion was passed as Derek O'Brien asked what people would eat if they were not to be paid in cash.

"Do you want us to eat plastic," he asked the Deputy Chairman and walked out of the House along with other members of his party.

Congress had already staged a walkout protesting Modi taking a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Modi said only Manmohan Singh knows the "art of taking bath with raincoat on".

--IANS

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