Note Ban: Modi’s Silence Paralyses Parliament’s Winter Session

PM Narendra Modi addresses the issue of demonetisation at a book launch in Delhi, hours before Parliament begins.
The Quint
Politics
Updated:
Members of Opposition in the Well of Rajya Sabha on Friday, 25 November 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)
Members of Opposition in the Well of Rajya Sabha on Friday, 25 November 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)
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  • Both Houses adjourned within 20 minutes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s no-show.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a book release on the eve of Constitution Day.
  • Opposition members demand apology from Modi for his comments at the event.
  • The winter session in Parliament has been dysfunctional as PM Modi has refrained from making a statement in the House.
  • On Thursday, Modi was present in the Rajya Sabha but left post lunch, without making a statement.

Rajya Sabha Reconvenes Amid Chaos

The Rajya Sabha reconvened for the day with members of the Opposition in the Well well before deputy Chairman PJ Kurien started speaking.

Members of Opposition in the Well of Rajya Sabha on Friday, 25 November 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Amid slogan of “Narendra Modi sharam karo, sharam karo”, “Pradhaan mantri maafi mango, maafi mango” the House was adjourned for the day, until Monday, within 6 minutes.

Rahul Gandhi Wants PM in the Parliament

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi reiterates the demand made by members of Opposition, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the Parliament to discuss demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.

Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Furore

Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Sudip Bandyopadhyay left the Well and entered the House to speak about Modi’s comments at a book launch event hours before the Parliament proceedings began.

His demand for an apology from Modi added fuel to the already enraged protesters furore. After continuous sloganeering, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.

Supreme Court to Hear Pleas Challenging Demonetisation

The Supreme Court fixes for 2 December the hearing on a batch of pleas challenging demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing a petitioner, however, wanted the hearing to start from Tuesday, 29 November itself.

While hearing the issues, Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur said, "Let us see, what can be done. This is a serious matter".

The apex court has also asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to file affidavits explaining the measures taken by the government to ease the situation.

Centre has recently moved the apex court seeking transfer of all the petitions pending in various high courts to either the Supreme Court or one of the high courts.

Opposition Members Demand Apology From Modi in Rajya Sabha

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad returned to Rajya Sabha, reiterating the Opposition’s demand seeking Modi’s apology for his comments at the book launch, hours before the Parliament proceedings began.

The Opposition has alleged that the Prime Minister has accused them of harboring black money because they are speaking against the government’s unpreparedness to deal with demonetisation.

The House was adjourned within 3 minutes after it was reconvened, until 2:30 pm by Chairman and Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Lok Sabha Speaker continues to try to run the House while members of Opposition raise slogans against demonetisation, Modi’s absence and his comment at the book launch.

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Person Tries to Jump Off Lok Sabha Building

A person tried to jump off the Lok Sabha building gallery into the House allegedly over the demonetisation issue. The person is now being questioned.

The man was reportedly trying to jump over the fence of visitors' gallery into the House. However, reports also claim that the man was trying to jump off the Lok Sabha building.

Mayawati, Sharad Yadav Attack Modi

BSP supremo Mayawati and JD(U) member Sharad Yadav attacked the Prime Minister on his statement at a book launch, hours before the Parliament session began.

Modi said that the people who are complaining against government’s lack of preparedness for demonetisation, are upset for not been given enough time to prepare themselves.

Members of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, 25 November 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Modi virtually alleged that the Opposition members are harboring black money, further enraging the angry members of the Opposition. The members of the Opposition have demanded and apology from the Prime Minister.

Watch Modi’s statement from the book launch:

Both Houses Drown in Anti-Modi Slogans

Both Houses begin amid chaos, Rajya Sabha members resort to sloganeering, enter the Well of the House, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House.

Slogans like“Pradhaan Mantri Maafi Mango” are being raised in Rajya Sabha, drowning the papers laid on the table.

While Rajya Sabha deputy Chairman PJ Kurien is indulging the members of Opposition like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mayawati, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is trying to run the House while slogans of “Narendra Modi Murdabad” are being raised.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed senior ministers and legislators at a book release function on the eve of Constitution Day in New Delhi on Friday.

Modi on Offensive: If You Complain, You Are Corrupt

Modi criticised those questioning the government’s lack of preparation. He said that the people who are complaining about the government unpreparedness are, in fact, upset that the government did not provide them time to prepare. Speaking in Hindi, he said:

I don’t think there is a lack of preparation by the government, the real problem is that the people who are complaining did not get time to prepare.

Promoting the use of digital currency in economically backward regions of the country, Modi urged the media to promote the cause, claiming that 65 percent of population in India is made up of youth with a growing number of mobile phones.

Benefits of Demonetisation, According to PM Modi

The people who have reaped the benefits of demonetisation,according to Modi, are small-town and district government like zilla parishads and maha nagar palikas.

Modi claimed to have looked into few administrations form small towns/districts and found that in place of their normal tax collection of 3k to 3.5k crore, few of them collected over 13k crore in taxes.

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Published: 25 Nov 2016,10:04 AM IST

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