Demonetisation : Rajya Sabha adjouned once again as Opposition demands Modi's presence
Even as Modi was present in the House during the question hour and listened to the speeches of several Opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress and other parties demanded that he be present throughout the debate.
"If the Prime Minister has attended the House only for the question hour then the proceedings won’t go on," Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said after debate resumed at 2 pm with Modi being absent in the House.
Earlier, the House was adjourned for 20 minutes.
Azad was joined by other opposition leaders, including CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury in the demand for the PM's presence.
As the chaos continued, Union Finance Minister rose and said that the Opposition had been demanding the PM's presence and he was present during the question hour. Now that an uproar is still being made disallowing the House to continue, " it proves that the Opposition want to evade the discussion."
Jaitley's remark fuelled the Opposition members further as they trooped into the well, continuing slogans and shouting.
Amid the uproar, Deputy Chairman R J Kurien adjourned the House.
Earlier, holding the Narendra Modi Government responsible for a "monumental mismanagement," in going ahead with the decision to recall high-value currencies, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it is an "organised loot and legalised plunder."
"Already 60 or 65 people have lost their lives, possibly more. This move will weaken and erode the people’s confidence in our currency and banking system,” he said, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting in the treasury benches.
Singh said while he was not disagreeing with the Government's purpose, the way the demonetisation move has been initiated is causing the people immense hardship.
"I hope that PM will help us find practical ways to give relief to people suffering. Monumental mismanagement has been undertaken in implementation of demonetisation," he said.
“I want to ask PM that can he name any country where people have deposited their money but are not able to withdraw it. PM said wait for 50 days but for the poor section even 50 days can be detrimental,” Singh said.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Maywati demanded a survey on demonetisation, while Trinamool Congress member Derek O'Brien appealed to the Government to save the people from suffering.
Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal alleged that the Government's demonetisation move is aimed at the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
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