Demonetisation: BJP, Congress clash in Rajya Sabha over Ghulam Nabi Azad's Uri remark​

Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad had compared the deaths of soldiers in the Uri terror attack with that of people standing in queues outside banks and ATMs post demonetisation.

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was on Friday adjourned for the day amid loud protests by the Opposition seeking a debate on the government's demonetisation move under the voting rule.

Earlier, both houses of Parliament were adjourned till noon amid loud protests over demonetisation.

Soon after the Lok Sabha met, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan congratulated the medal winners of the Rio Olympics and Paralympics games.

As she proceeded for the Question Hour, Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge sought discussion on demonetisation under Rule 56 that which entails voting after discussion.

"People are suffering after demonetisation. We have given notices of adjournment. So accept it and begin discussion under Rule 56," Kharge said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said people were with the government in this step.

"The government is ready to discuss it. People of the country are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation," Kumar said.

As the Opposition members created a ruckus, Mahajan adjourned the house till 12 noon and when it convened, the House was adjourned for the day.

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned four times.

Slogans and counter-slogans forced the adjournment of the House first till 11:30 am, then till 12 noon and again till 12:33 pm as similar scenes continued. However, the House was later adjourned till 2:30 pm due to continued protest over demonetisation.

Opposition MPs assembled near the Chairman's podium raising slogans against the government.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi sought an apology from the Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad for comparing the deaths of soldiers in the Uri terror attack with that of people standing in queues outside banks and ATMs post demonetisation.

Soon after listed papers were laid on the table of the House, BJP members moved into aisles shouting slogans and demanding an apology from Azad for his controversial remarks. The remarks were expunged by the Chair yesterday itself.

Congress members too rushed into the Well raising slogans demanding an apology from the Prime Minister and government for the hardship caused to the common man due to the withdrawal of 86 percent of the currency in circulation in the form of old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.

AIADMK members were also in the Well raising slogans over the Cauvery water issue.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien asked all members to leave the Well and return to their seats, assuring them that he would hear their submissions.

Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi alleged that Azad's statement had given a message to the country that Congress was sympathetic to terrorism and asked why was it so agitated when the demonetisation drive was only to hurt black money hoarders.

The Chair persuaded AIADMK and Congress members to withdraw from the Well, telling them that he would give an opportunity to their leaders to raise their respective issues.

But with BJP members continuing to stand in the aisles and raise slogans, Congress members too were back in the well shouting slogans.

Kurien said treasury benches should not create problems for the Chair. "If you do this, what do I do? You should cooperate with me in running the House. Treasury benches should not disrupt," he said.

But the din continued, forcing him to adjourn the proceedings till 11:30 am.

There was no change in the scenario when the House reassembled as both BJP and Congress members again started raising slogans.

While Congress members trooped into the Well, several AIADMK members were seen standing along their seats.

As the slogans and counter-slogans continued, the Chair adjourned the House till noon.

When the House reassembled at noon, members from the Opposition again trooped into the Well demanding an "apology from the Prime Minister" for causing harassment to the people. The BJP members were also on their feet countering the Opposition.

All pleas by Chairman Hamid Ansari to run the Question Hour proceedings failed to make any impact on the Congress and other members who were raising slogans.

As the heated exchanges between the Opposition and Treasury bench members continued, Ansari said "allow the Question Hour to run. What are you doing? Please go back to your seats."

As the uproar continued, the Chairman adjourned the House for 30 minutes till 12:33 pm.

When the House reassembled at 12:33 pm, it again witnessed uproarious scenes with opposition members trooping into the Well and those from the Treasury standing in the aisles demanding an apology from Azad.

While members of Congress and other parties raised slogans like "Narendra Modi maafi maango (Narendra Modi apologise)," the Chairman tried to restore peace by repeatedly telling them, "go to your seats, you cannot do this."

However, as the uproar continued, Ansari adjourned the House within minutes for the fourth time till 2:30 pm.

Earlier, the Chairman was heard saying "a minister can't do" as some ministers too were seen raising slogans.

The House again witnessed uproarious scenes as it met again at 1430 hours with opposition members trooping into the Well and those from the Treasury standing in the aisles demanding an apology from Azad.

While members from Congress and other parties raised slogans like "Jan Virodhi Narendra Modi (Narendra Modi is against people)," the Deputy Chairman tried to restore peace by repeatedly telling them, "go to your seats, you cannot do this."

Congress leader Anand Sharma accused the government of not wanting the House to run and for "destroying the poor" with his policies.

In the melee, the Deputy Chairman asked the MPs to introduce the Private Member's Bill amid continuous sloganeering by the opposition and treasury benches.

Prior to this, he read out a decision by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on a private member's bill for special package to Andhra Pradesh after its reorganisation, moved in the last session Congress member KVP Ramachandra Rao.

The Bill was referred to the Speaker to ascertain whether it was a money bill and whether it can be introduced in the Upper House. However, Kurien's statement could not be heard in the din.

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva moved a Bill to provide for reservation of posts for women in establishments, while BJP leader Subramniam Swamy introduced a Bill further to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Independent MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar moved his Bill to declare any country as state sponsor of terrorism and withdraw economic and trade relations with such country and to create legal, economic and travel sanctions for citizens of that country.

BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav said he would move his legislation next time.

Following continuous uproarious scenes, Kurien adjourned the House till Monday.

No business could be transacted as the din continued unabated.

The list of business today included further discussion on demonetisation of currency. Two bills were listed for consideration and passing - the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014 and the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is to be followed by Private Members' Business.

(With Agency inputs)