Both the Houses of Parliament were again paralysed on Wednesday on account of stalemate over demonetisation debate and the Opposition demand for an obituary reference to the soldiers who died in the terror attack on Army camp in Jammu. The lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed repeat adjournments before adjourning for the day amidst uproarious scenes and slogan-shouting.
In the Rajya Sabha, the government offered for discussion on the situation along the border and pressed for resuming the debate on demonetisation. These were rejected by the opposition parties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the lok Sabha during the question hour which did not last long as opposition member insisted on obituary references to the soldiers died in the terror attack on Tuesday. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and said that combing operations were still under way and final details were awaited. When Speaker rejected their demand, the Opposition members staged a walk out.
The House was adjourned for nearly 40 minutes till noon after the Opposition created a din over its demand for an adjournment motion on the demonetisation issue.
In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition led by Congress and TMC forced four adjournments over their demand that the House condoles the killing of 25 army men since the surgical strikes and the death of 82 persons due to post-demonetisation hardships.
Rejecting the Government's offer for discussion on the situation along the border and resuming the debate on demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupee notes, Opposition members trooped into the well shouting anti-government slogans, forcing Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till Thursday.
In the lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that he wanted an obituary reference in the memory of the soldiers killed, she said she had no problems in bringing the reference but the details were still pouring in as combing operations were still on. "I know seven soldiers have been killed...let the complete report come," she said.
But as Kharge was persistent, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said issues of national security should not be brought into controversy.
At this stage, Most opposition members, including those from Congress, TMC, left, RJD then staged a walkout. "It is sad that you raised the issue like this," Mahajan said.
As the House took up the first question for the day during Question Hour, the Opposition members returned and rushed to the Well demanding adjournment motion on demonetisation issue. The Speaker then adjourned the proceedings till noon.
later, Kharge and TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhyay expressed regret over the development but blamed the government for its inputs to the Speaker on the matter, a contention Mahajan rejected saying the Government had no role in it.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar attacked the Opposition over the matter, saying they should not do politics over martyrdom of soldiers, drawing protests from the Opposition benches.
On the demonetisation issue, Kharge said opposition was ready for the discussion and sought Speaker to chose any rule that entails voting and start discussion on demonetisation.
Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) also said they were willing to withdraw their demand that the debate be held under Rule 56, which deals with an adjournment motion, and said the government should also not insist on Rule 193 which does not involve voting at the end of the debate.
BJD also sided with the Opposition and rejected the government's contention with its leader Bhartruhari Mahtab saying the division of votes was not on black money but the hardships facing people and states following the decision.
At this stage Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said if peoples hardship was to be debated then division of votes was not needed.
The House saw two adjournments due to the noisy protests before Speaker Sumitra Mahajan called it a day before the lunch.
In the upper house, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said there should be an obituary reference for the seven army personnel including two officers in terrorist attack at Nagrota armybase as well as for the 82 persons who died because of the "wrong policies of government." Azad demanded a statement from the Defence Minister on the Nagrota attack.
leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government was ready for discussion on both the issues mentioned by the Opposition. While the discussion on demonetisation should be resumed, the government is ready for a discussion on the situation along the border, he said.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said he had given a notice under rule 267 for an obituary resolution to mourn the martyrdom of 25 army personnel since the surgical strikes across the loC, and the death of 82 people standing in queues io get valid currency after the ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes. Kurien, however, said the notice is not permitted.
Charging government with being insensitive, Mayawati (BSP) said demonetisation was done without preparation and a condolence message has to be brought before the House.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) also spoke on the currency issue while Jaitley snapped at him asking him to first discuss demonetisation within his party and decide if it is against the move or for it. His remark was apparent reference to JD-U Chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar supporting demonetisation.
Congress, TMC, left, SP, BSP and DMK stood in the aisles and started raising slogans "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" and the treasury bench members too joined in shouting the same slogan. "There is total agreement in the House", Chairman Ansari commented sarcastically and wondered why the House was not being allowed to run.