There is no thaw in sight between the Government and the Opposition with just two days left for the conclusion of the Winter Session of Parliament as the issue of demonetisation and alleged corruption charges against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju related to a power project in Arunachal Pradesh disrupted the proceedings of the two Houses that were later adjourned for the day after prolonged bedlam.
For a change, the upper house briefly witnessed unusual bonhomie over the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, with both the Opposition and the Government agreeing to pass it. However, as soon as the Bill was passed, uproar was again witnessed as Congress members raised the issue of demonetisation and Rijiju forcing the chair to adjourn the House for the day.
In the lok Sabha, the Government accused the Opposition of making attempts to fail the “pro-poor” decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inviting uproarious reaction from the Opposition.
With members of the Congress, the TMC and others raising slogans in the Well, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar further attacked the Opposition, citing a sting operation aired on a news channel to allege that Congress, SP and BSP leaders had joined hands to “finish off” the Government’s efforts to bolster the white economy.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s decision to allow Bhratruhari Mahtab (BJD) to raise the issue of AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal scam, ignoring Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s plea to have his say made Congress unhappy as its president Sonia Gandhi too was seen protesting against the decision.
Kumar regretted that Kharge was challenging the Speaker saying it was unfortunate and soon cited the sting operation to take on the Opposition parties. “They have become ‘note-jugaad’ (managing currency) parties. It is a conspiracy to finish off what Modi has brought for the poor,” he said.
Raising the AgustaWestland issue, Mahtab expressed concern over defence purchases in the wake of the arrest of former Air chief SP Tyagi in the case.
As the Congress questioned the decision to allow Mahtab to speak, the Speaker said she would not allow Kharge as long as Congress members were in the Well.
Earlier, lok Sabha had witnessed another adjournment till noon when the Opposition created ruckus while training their guns on the Government over Rijiju and demonetisation.