Sharad Yadav, Arun Jaitley exchange barbs in Rajya Sabha

Oppn demanded the House to mourn killing of armymen and deaths of persons in post-demonetisation hardships

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Janata Dal United leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday exchanged sharp barbs in the Rajya Sabha over the demonetisation issue as the Opposition stalled the pre-noon proceedings.

The incident happened when members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party created uproar over their demand that the House mourn the killing of 25 armymen since surgical strikes and deaths of 82 persons in post-demonetisation hardships.

Yadav said it was unprecedented that there was no obituary reference for the seven army personnel including two senior officers killed in terrorist attack at Nagrota armybase near Jammu on Tuesday.

As he also raised death of "nearly 90 persons" in post-demonetisation hardships, Jaitley retorted that he should first discuss demonetisation within his party and find "if it is agreeable" with the ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes or not.

His remark was apparent reference to JDU chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar supporting demonetisation.

"We are not against demonetisation. We are against the restrictions that have been placed (on withdrawals from own accounts)," Yadav shot back.

The JDU leader then went on to ask if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was with him or not.

"Is your Prime Minister with you? Is he listening to you," he asked.