Demonetization: BJP trains guns on Ghulam Nabi Azad again, demands apology

Even as the Government-Opposition standoff paralysed Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked MPs of the ruling coalition to fan out to explain the demonetization decision to people in their constituencies over the weekend.

After a review meeting convened by the Prime Minister on Friday morning, the BJP parliamentary party conveyed the message to all NDA MPs to reach out to people about the “long-term benefits” of the move through gatherings, social media and statements. 

According to sources, the BJP’s parliamentary party office has also compiled all notifications and circulars—11 by the finance ministry and 16 by RBI—issued since November 8 for MPs to refer to.

The government has been under attack from the Opposition over the handling of demonetization leading to “hardships” for the common man. While in Parliament there was no sign of an end to the deadlock in either House, the government is hopeful that normalcy would resume next week, inside and outside Parliament.

At the same time, the government is unlikely to give in to the Opposition demand for a discussion on demonetization under an adjournment motion. Looking at past precedents, the government has found that Congress regimes have also been disinclined from accepting Opposition demands for adjournment motions, sources said.  The government is agreeing to a debate, but only under rule 193, which does not entail voting.

 “We are for debate... One united message should go from the House,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.

Meanwhile, the treasury benches in Rajya Sabha are insisting on an apology from Leader of Opposition in the House Ghulam Nabi Azad for comparing deaths after demonetization with the killings in the Uri attack. “We feel he should tender an unconditional apology. It concerns national security and involves the forces. Both Congress and Azad should set it right,” Kumar said. On the Opposition’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Rajya Sabha, Kumar dismissed it, describing it as an “afterthought.”

Also speaking on the issue, Information and Broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said it was a “fig leaf to play out their strategy of disruption. The PM will intervene whenever there is a need.”

So far, the government has been evasive on whether it would agree to the Opposition’s demand for the Prime Minister’s presence, an issue which has been stalling the Rajya Sabha since Thursday. 

While the Opposition prevented further debate, insisting on the presence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House, the ruling benches sought an apology from Azad. Deputy chairman PJ Kurien repeatedly adjourned the House and finally called it a day at 2:30 pm when the Opposition did not allow even the listed private members’ business.  

The scene was not very different in the Lok Sabha where Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected all adjournment notices of opposition members. She first adjourned the Question Hour and finally adjourned the House for the day at 12.25 pm, after allowing the special mentions by over half a dozen members despite the din.

BJP’s New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi was on her feet referring to Azad’s speech in the Rajya Sabha in her special mention in the Lok Sabha.  Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, cited the norms and asked her not to take the name of an MP from the other House.