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Opposition stalls Rajya Sabha proceedings to press for PM's presence
A united Opposition today stalled the proceedings in Rajya Sabha as they continued to press for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the debate on currency demonetisation, even as slogan-shouting ruling party members prevented former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from speaking on the issue.
By
migrator
migrator
New Delhi
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the proceedings till noon after the Opposition did not agree to his suggestion of resuming debate on hardships caused by banning of 500 and 1000 rupee notes and the treasury benches refusing to allow Singh to speak.
Soon after listed papers were laid and Zero Hour began, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the former Prime Minister would like to speak, a request that Kurien agreed to.
However, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley strongly objected to Singh being given an opportunity to speak outside the debate on the demonetisation issue.
Singh, he said, can participate after the debate, which started on the opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament on November 16, resumes.
"If there is no debate, nobody from the Opposition should be allowed to speak," he said.
Jaitley said Zero Hour, where members are allowed to raise matters of public importance, cannot be allowed to be used as an opportunity to raise demonetisation issue.
"Let Opposition resume the debate and let Dr Manmohan Singh speak in that debate," he said.
Naresh Agarwal (SP) pressed for admission of his notice under Rule 267 suspension of business to discuss the demonetisation issue, during which Prime Minister should be present and also reply to it.
Kurien said no conditions can be put in this notice and disallowed it, saying it was not drawn in the proper format.
Jaitley cited the rule book to say that the House cannot take up another notice under rule 267 on the subject that has been debated in the House.
Derek O'Brien (TMC) wanted former Prime Minister to be allowed to speak and the Chair should take a sense of the House on the issue, a debate that Jaitley strongly objected saying Singh can speak as part of discussion.
Kurien said he had allowed Singh to speak. "He can speak. I have no problem. It is Zero Hour. I allowed him to speak."
Singh was however not allowed to speak as members of the ruling side shouted slogans for resumption of the debate.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the discussion on demonetisation issue can be taken up immediately, while Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu asked why the Opposition was not willing to resume the debate.
Kurien said though the debate was listed to be taken up after the Question Hour, it was open to allowing it right away.
As the Opposition insisted on former Prime Minister to be allowed to speak, he said, "I have not prevented him. I have allowed Manmohan Singh to speak. He can speak," he said.
Singh, who had at the first instance of his name being called stood up to speak but sat down after BJP members protested, did not rise to speak as the pandemonium continued.
Anand Sharma (Cong) said it was duty of the Prime Minister to respect the privilege of the House once a notice under rule 267 has been admitted on a subject which he had chosen to make public.
"He (Modi) is running away from House," he charged.
Kurien said he had yesterday clarified that the subject concerned the Finance Ministry and he can make sure that the concerned minister is present, but to call Prime Minister was beyond him. "I can't do that".
As the slogan shouting continued, he said he was helpless and the only way left for him was to adjourn the proceedings.
Mayawati (BSP) said the Opposition was united that the Prime Minister should come and listen to the debate as well as reply to it.
As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the proceedings till 1200 hours.
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