Parliament failed to function yet again on Wednesday, as the Opposition sought to combine the Nagrota terror attack that killed seven Army personnel with the demonetisation hardship faced by the people.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Lok Sabha, the Opposition walked out on the Nagrota issue.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition demanded that the House condole the soldiers’ martyrdom as also the deaths of 82 people in bank queues.
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“The House should first condole the deaths of the Army men killed in the Nagrota attack and also the deaths of 82 people because of the wrong policies of the government,” Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said. BSP leader Mayawati supported his pitch.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien clarified that the notice had not been admitted. He, however, told Mr. Azad that he could raise the issue once discussion resumed.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the House was already in the middle of the demonetisation debate and one on the border situation could also be done if members so wished.
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The Rajya Sabha was repeatedly adjourned soon afterwards amid sloganeering by the Opposition.
Twice stalled
The Lok Sabha was stalled twice before being adjourned for the day owing to continued protests by the Opposition members.
Soon after the Lok Sabha resumed in the morning, Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of obituary for the Army men martyred in the Nagrota terror attack. Mr. Modi was present in the House.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the combing operation in Nagrota was still on. Mr. Kharge protested, saying that brave soldiers had sacrificed their lives for the nation.
When the House reassembled, BJD member Bhartruhari Mahtab said the Opposition was not demanding division of votes on black money, but on the hardships faced by the common man after the government’s decision to recall notes.
Mr. Kharge urged the Speaker to allow the debate on any rule that allowed voting.
Around 1 p.m., as the interruptions continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till Thursday.