Demonetisation: Opposition stalls Parliament, demands PM Modi's presence during debate

As soon as both houses convened for the day, members of the Opposition parties marched into the well of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to demand Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence during the ongoing debate on the fallout of demonetisation of Rs 1000 and 500 notes on November 8.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and some other Opposition parties insisted on a discussion on demonetisation under Rule 56, which entails voting and through an adjournment motion that implies the suspension of all other business.

On the other hand, in the Rajya Sabha, treasury benches also resorted to slogans after union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi referred to the leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that more people had died because of demonetisation than had been killed in the Uri terror attack on September 18 this year.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) members protested outside Parliament over the complications faced by the people after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

MPs Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandyopadhyay were among the protesters.

Last week, TMC head and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met President Pranab Mukherjee along with leaders of National Conference and a few other opposition parties seeking the withdrawal of the demonetisation move.

Amid the pandemonium in the both houses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met senior cabinet ministers in his chamber in Parliament to counter the opposition.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to its party`s Rajya Sabha members, asking them to be present in the House for three days starting today.

Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned last Friday following furore over the Centre`s move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

(This article first appeared on Zee News)