The demonetisation issue rocked Parliament for the 11th consecutive day on Thursday, with even the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rajya Sabha failing to break the ice.
The Opposition — which had demanded his presence in the House as a precondition for the demonetisation debate to continue — referred to his recent statements outside Parliament and called for an apology, alleging that he had suggested that Opposition members opposing the move were backing black money.
The treasury benches objected to the Opposition members’ tone, accusing them of not wanting a debate in the House.
Mr. Modi sat through the Question Hour on a day which had questions listed against his name. Subsequently, he was present in the post-lunch session at 2 pm as well. He sat in the House even during a 15-minute adjournment, when some members walked up to him and greeted him.
BJP members protested when Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the PM has remarked that Opposition parties supported black money holders.
When Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari called the listed speaker, A.U. Singh Deo of the BJD, to speak on demonetisation, Congress members began to shout slogans that the PM should apologise, leading to adjournment. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu later said that the Congress had completely exposed itself as they did not allow the House to function even when the PM was present.
In the Lok Sabha too, there was no meeting ground on the demonetisation, with the Opposition insisting on a debate under a rule that entailed voting. The adjourned amid interruptions.
