New Delhi: Proceedings in Parliament were washed out for the seventh straight day on Thursday with the Opposition targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his utterances against those opposing demonetisation and demanding an apology from him for “wrongly accusing the opposition of holding black money”.
The government, however, rejected the demand.
Members of parties like Congress, Trinamool Congress, SP, BSP and Left created uproar in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, taking strong objection to Modi’s comments this morning that “some people” are criticising demonetisation because “the government did not give any time to them to make any preparation (to convert black money into white).”
In the Rajya Sabha, as soon as the House met for the day and mourned the death of its former member Dipen Ghosh, BSP leader Mayawati was on her feet saying the Prime Minister had this morning “wrongly accused opposition of holding black money” and demanded that he should apologise for his remarks.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad questioned how Modi could make such allegations when it was made very clear by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others during debate on demonetisation on Wednesday that the opposition is against black money.
“How can Prime Minister level such an allegation? … We are against black money. Prime Minister must apologise,” he said as Congress and other opposition members trooped into the Well of the House, raising slogans like “Pradhan Mantri maafi mango (Prime Minister apologise).”
BJP members also came into the aisles and raised slogans supporting Modi to counter the Opposition onslaught against the government and the Prime Minister.
Amid the din, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said a notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to take up discussion on ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes has been received from Azad. “I am ready to admit that motion provided you are ready for discussion,” he said. Azad said his notice was conditional upon the Prime Minister coming to the House and listening to the entire debate and replying to it.
He said when Modi had yesterday come to Rajya Sabha, “I had on behalf of the entire opposition welcomed him” and also asked whether he had come to participate in the demonetisation debate or in the Question Hour.
Leader of the Opposition Azad again referred to the remarks of the Prime Minister during the book release function earlier in the day.
“(The Prime Minister) levelled serious allegations on the entire Opposition. Opposition MPs are in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha…(MLAs and MLCs in) state assemblies,” he said, adding that the Opposition cannot remain silent when serious allegations are levelled against them.
Azad said the Prime Minister has levelled allegations that the Opposition favoured blackmoney holders. “The Prime Minister should apologise,” the senior Congress leader said.
Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was heard saying that there was no question of apology from the Prime Minister, instead the Opposition should tender an apology. At this point, Congress members trooped into the Well raising slogans as several BJP members were also seen standing in the aisles and shouting back.
As the uproar continued, Chair adjourned the House till 1430 hours. Similar unruly scenes erupted again when the House reassembled, forcing Kurien to call it a day.