Proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the 4th day today on the demonetisation issue, with both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha being adjourned for the day.
Opposition and treasury bench members traded charges on demonetisation. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress demanded suspension of the question hour to take up discussion on demonetisation, which was rejected by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Opposition members belonging to Congress, TMC, NCP and SP trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans. Amid the din, she tried to conduct the Question Hour.
Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar said the government is ready for holding discussion and pleaded with the Opposition members to go back to their seats.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed noisy scenes with the Opposition demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House and payment of compensation to those who reportedly died of trauma, while queuing up before banks and ATMs following demonetisation of high value currency notes.
The House witnessed four adjournments in the pre-lunch session. Congress members repeatedly trooped into the well displaying placards. Chairman Mohd Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for the day as the pandemonium continued. When the House met for the day, Sharad Yadav of JD(U) demanded that the government should pay a compensation of 10 lakh rupees to each of the kin of the deceased in the demonetisation process.
Mayawati of BSP demanded that Prime Minister should attend the House to listen to the discussion on the issue. Saying that 90 per cent of the people of the country are suffering due to it, she said the present situation looked like financial emergency. She also demanded that payment of compensation to the deceased.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, the opposition is ready for discussion but Prime Minister should be present in the House. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi appealed to the Chair that the discussion on demonetisation should resume and those who want to take part in it, should be allowed.