AGENCY
New Delhi: Parliament again failed to transact any business as the opposition parties on Wednesday created uproar demanding obituary references to the soldiers killed in terror attack in Nagrota as well as those who died due to harassment after demonetisation.
In the Lok Sabha, the demand was rejected by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who said the operation in Nagrota was still underway and obituary reference can be made only after it is over.
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government was ready for a discussion on the terror attack along with that on demonetisation issue.
However, there was uproar in both the Houses, leading to repeated adjournments. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day just minutes before 1 pm while the Rajya Sabha was adjourned at around 2.15 pm.
Earlier, as soon as the Upper House met for the day, Opposition led by Congress and Trinamool Congress raised the demand for obituary reference over the killing of 25 armymen since the surgical strikes on September 29 and the “death of 82 people” due to post-demonetisation hardships.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said there should be an obituary reference for the seven army personnel including two officers killed in terrorist attack at Nagrota armybase near Jammu yesterday as well as for the 82 people who died because of the “wrong policies of government.”
As other opposition members joined in, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien got listed papers to be laid on the table. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (Trinamool) 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.
“It is a serious issue if the House is not ready to pay homage to brave soldiers and those who died because of the wrong policies” of the government, Azad said.
Charging government with being insensitive, Mayawati (BSP) said demonetisation was done without preparation and a condolence message has to be brought before the House. 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.
When Sharad Yadav (JD-U) also spoke on the currency issue, 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.
Yadav shot back, saying his party was not against demonetisation but against the restrictions that have been placed on withdrawals.
