Black money issue resonates in Parliament

The first working day of Parliament today saw the government being targeted over the issue of black money by opposition, which questioned what had been done so far to implement BJP's poll promise, evoking an assurance that it could be discussed.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya witnessed uproar because of which the Lower House was adjourned briefly.

'100 days are over, where is the black money?' chanted members of TMC, Congress, RJD, SP, AAPand AAP, who stormed the Well of the Lok Sabha minutes after it assembled for the day.

Today was the first working day of the Winter session as both Houses were adjourned yesterday after condoling the death of some sitting members.

In Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan went ahead with the Zero Hour unmindful of the slogan-shouting by the opposition members who chanted "bring back black money".

The members said the government had promised to get back the black money stashed abroad within 100 days of coming to power but had failed to do so.

Mahajan pleaded with the agitating members to go back to their seats, even assuring them that she would try for an early debate on the issue in consultation with various political parties. But, her pleas went unheeded.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government had nothing to hide and was ready to discuss the issue. He said the government has done a lot in the last six months on the black money issue.

The Rajya Sabha also saw uproarious scenes over the issue, with members from JD-U, Samajwadi Party and TMC on their feet when the House assembled for the day.

They kept shouting slogans and waving papers attacking the government on the black money issue.

Derek O'Brien (TMC) raised the issue after lunch saying, "The Government has made some assurances outside the House on bringing back black money. But no black money has come...There was a lot of hope on this issue, but the government is not delivering. There has to be some structured discussion on this issue. This is not about one or two political parties but all the parties."

Responding to this, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the member raised an important issue and the government is "too willing to discuss the issue" whenever the parties want in consultation with the Chairman.