New Delhi: Opposition parties on Friday continued to create an uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the continued absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the House.
Opposition members stormed into the well of the House and chanted slogans against the Prime Minister for saying his critics are not in favour of wiping out black money.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded that Modi apologise for saying that Opposition parties are in support of black money.
“PM made serious allegations against Opposition when he said that Opposition parties favouring black money. He must apologise,” JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said.
BSP chief Mayawati said that Modi should come to the House and clarify as to who has black money according to him.
Defending Modi’s remarks, BJP MP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the PM had only accused ‘some people’ of being upset as they could not hide their black money, and hence the Opposition need not take offence.
BJP MPs said there is ‘no question’ of the PM apologising, as Opposition leaders continued to create a ruckus in Rajya Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2;30 pm as the uproar continued. The Lok Sabha was also adjourned.
Meanwhile, a person tried to jump off the top of the Lok Sabha building, allegedly over the ban on old notes. He is now being questioned, said ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said earlier at a book release that those protesting against demonetisation of old notes do not have a problem with the government’s preparedness for it, but are upset that the government did not give them enough time to ‘prepare’.
Major Opposition parties met in Parliament on Friday morning ahead of the beginning of the session at 11 am, to discuss strategy to confront the government on demonetisation.
In the meeting, it was decided that the Opposition would continue to press for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Parliament and his participation in the debates on the note ban issue.
“Frequent changes in policies are causing harassment to poor. Hence, we are saying there are lot of difficulties, let us discuss sort them out,” Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said.
A united Opposition had on Thursday forced abandonment of Parliament proceedings for the 6th straight day, after Modi did not return to the Rajya Sabha after the lunch break.
The Opposition has urged Modi to respond in person to the questions raised in Parliament on demonetisation, a move which most parties have criticised as being against the common man.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday described the move as ‘organised loot and legalised plunder’ and said the poor cannot wait for even 50 days for things to normalise, as requested by the PM.
The government had in a sudden move on November 8 declared notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 to no longer be legal tender from midnight. New Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes were launched soon after. However, long queues at ATMs and banks as well as deaths of several people standing in queues has raised the hackles of the Opposition and caused considerable public criticism of the move.
