Demonetisation debate in Parliament: As it happened on Thursday

New Delhi: Opposition on Thursday paralysed Parliament, with Rajya Sabha disrupted over demand for the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his response in the demonetisation debate, which the government rejected outright.

17 November 2016

15:12 PM

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu takes strong objection to Azad's statement, says the Leader of Opposition is insulting the nation by comparing demonetisation with terror attacks. Naidu asks the Congress leader to apologise.

News agency ANI quotes Azad as saying Pakistani terrorists did not kill even half of our people in Uri terror attack than those who have died due to the government's wrong policy.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, says the House will not function until PM Modi comes for discussion.

Rajya Sabha resumes. Opposition MPs remain defiant in their demand for PM Modi's statement on demonestisation.

12:36 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after uproar over demonetisation issue.

12:17 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm after uproar over Demonetisation issue.

12:12 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12:30 pm amid Opposition din over demonetisation issue.

Lok Sabha Opposition MP's seek adjournment motion on demonetisation, raise slogans as Question Hour continues amid din.

11:32 AM

Massive ruckus in both Upper House and Lower House.

Opposition MPs rush to Well of the HOuse in Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon. The second adjournment came when many DMK and Congress members gathered near the Chairman`s podium and raised slogans against the government. The MPs demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s presence in the house.

11:17 AM

TMC leaders protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises over demonetisation issue.

11:11 AM

Uproar in Parliament, Around 21 adjournment notices submitted by the Opposition.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11:30 AM after uproar in the house over demonetisation issue.

10:40 AM

Coming down hard at the Centre, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav says government has created an anarchy by demonetisation of Rs 500/1000 notes as everything has come to a standstill.

"Modi government should accept the demand of opposition for JPC on demonetisation of currency notes as being alleged that the decision was selectively leaked," Sharad Yadav tweets.

"It looks like anarchy in d country especially in villages after demonetization. I am afraid that this may lead to law & order problems," the JD(U) leader's another tweet says.

10:28 AM

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu reassures that government is ready for debate on demonetisation or any issue related to the move.

10:27 AM

Ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh to speak in Rajya Sabha today.

10:17 AM

Fire works expected in the Parliament as the Opposition has demanded PM Narendra Modi to make a statement on the burning issue.

10:11 AM

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will reply in the Rajya Sabha on Demonetisation issue.

10:10 AM

Reports claim that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak on demonetisation.

Rahul on Wednesday had alleged that no action was being taken against the "real black marketeers" and the "industrialist friends" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

10:09 AM

Trinamool Congress MPs of both Houses to stage a dharna outside Parliament at 10:20 am to highlight the sufffering of common people on banning of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.

10:08 AM

The opposition on Wednesday tried to corner the government in the Rajya Sabha over the demonetisation issue on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, accusing it of leaking the information of demonetisation beforehand to a select few and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter.

Replying to Opposition's onslaught, the government put up a strong defence in Rajya Sabha on demonetisation, saying the step was taken in national interest to end corruption and black money, which it is said is also used for terror activities in the country.

Power Minister Piyush Goyal, who spoke on behalf of the ruling side after Congress leader Anand Sharma slammed the government, rejected as baseless the opposition charge that there was "leakage" of the decision and said everyone was taken by surprise which is why there are "initial" problems.

"There is no politics in it. It is a step taken in national interest," he said, adding the step will help the country in the long run.