Both the Houses of Parliament remained disrupted on Monday and got adjourned post-lunch for the day even as the Government looked for a breakthrough with Home Minister Rajnath Singh stating in the lok Sabha that Speaker Sumitra Mahajan should be allowed to take a decision regarding the rule under which the debate should be undertaken in the House. This was the 13th day of consecutive disruption of the Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha continued to witness protest by the Opposition over the plight of employees and pensioners as they were facing difficulties due to non-availability of cash. The Opposition also charged the Government with “financial anarchy and emergency”. The agitated members repeatedly rushed into the well raising slogans and did not allow functioning of the House forcing repeated adjournments in the pre- and post-lunch sessions.
Making its intentions clear of not letting the Upper House run, the Opposition set the tone soon after proceedings began for the day with leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad claiming that over the weekend, situation worsened as employees and pensioners could not withdraw money due to its shortage in banks.
In the lower house, the Opposition apparently scaled down its demand from adjournment motion but insisted on a debate on demonetisation under voting provisions. The deadlock continued even after the Speaker offered to have discussions under “no rules” in the house.
The Home Minister, who was present in the house, said the Government was ready to take suggestions from the Opposition on reducing problems faced by people.
Maintaining that the demonetisation decision was taken in national interest, Rajnath said while it was clear that nobody was questioning the intent of the step, some Opposition parties may be feeling that there are some deficiencies in its implementation.
He said the Government wanted a discussion so that it could listen to the views of the Opposition parties and address the deficiencies, if any. He said the Government would leave it for the Speaker to take a call on the rule.
The Opposition, however, maintained its demand that a debate should be held under Rule 184 which entails voting. An attempt was made to take up the debate under Rule 193 which does not entail voting, with TRS leader A P Jithender Reddy being called to initiate the discussion.
As Opposition members protested the move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the debate should be held under Rule 193.
But as Reddy rose to speak, Trinamool Congress members surrounded him and created a lot of noise by resorting to shouting, including using the TRS leader’s microphone.
As chaos prevailed, the House was adjourned at around 2.10 pm and thereafter for the day.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was present in the House. No AIADMK MP was present in the House due to party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s serious health condition.
In Rajya Sabha, Azad asked if there is a financial emergency in the country. He also said ATMs in the Parliament complex did not have adequate cash and wondered about the plight of common people in towns and far flung villages of the country.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu countered Azad’s allegations and asked the Opposition to discuss these issues in the stalled debate on demonetisation. However, the Opposition was in no mood to relent with Congress, SP, BSP, TMC and CPM members trooping into the well demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House.
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien later adjourned the House till 12.00 pm and 11.20 pm. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Question Hour and Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the proceedings till 2.00 pm.
When the House reassembled, the Opposition kept on with their vociferous protest. Amid din, Kurien permitted Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot to move ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014’ for passage. The Bill could not be passed amid ruckus and the Chair the House for the day.