Despite PM's presence Rajya Sabha fails to function

Despite the Prime Minister acceding to the Opposition’s demand to attend both Houses, the Rajya Sabha missed yet another opportunity on Thursday to have a debate on demonetization.

The Prime Minister reached the Rajya Sabha before the Question Hour at noon on Thursday and ensured his presence in the Upper House for more than an hour. He also remained seated when the house was adjourned for 15 minutes. 

The PM’s presence in the Rajya Sabha, showed the government’s determination to engage the Opposition in the   debate on demonetization. But a determined Opposition created a ruckus and didn’t allow any resumption of debate, leading to a verbal dual between the Congress and the BJP.

The original demand of the Opposition was that a debate could resume only in presence of the PM, who has often given a miss to the proceedings of the House. But on Thursday, when the PM conceded to the demand, the Opposition came up with a new demand, that the PM apologise first for his repeated black money jibe against them outside Parliament.

BJP minister Venkaiah Naidu sought deputy chairman PJ Kurien’s permission to start the debate on demonetization. But even before Kurien could call the member’s name to start the debate, Congress MP BK Hariprasad said, “Sir, Let the Prime Minister apologize.” 

His demand was met by a retort from Naidu, “The Congress should apologise for its irresponsible behaviour… “Soon it turned into a free for all as Opposition members rushed to the well shouting slogans against the Prime Minister. 

An exasperated Kurien pleaded with Congress members to go back to their benches and start the debate as their demand for the PM’s presence has been met. But the Congress was not ready for anything short of an apology from the PM for his statement that all Opposition parties were favouring black money. 

Naidu then chided the Opposition for running away from the debate and asserted that the PM is here and he will intervene as and when required. The Opposition, however, rushed into the well, creating a ruckus with slogans and that forced Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to adjourn the House for the day.

Earlier, Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the demonetization debate that began on November 16 was held up all these days since the PM was not coming to answer questions on the matter. He added that the debate could start only after he (Modi) explains and apologises for accusing the Opposition of supporting the black money holders at least in two meetings.

The ruling and Opposition benches clashed even as Chairman Hamid Ansari had a word with Naidu, calling him to his chair, and announced suspension of the question hour to start the debate. BJD member AU Singh Deo even started speaking on his direction, but the pandemonium forced him to adjourn for 15 minutes.

Prime Minister Modi kept sitting during the adjournment and had a word with whosoever came to meet him. He, however, showed apparent arrogance when he did not get up from his chair to greet two senior AIADMK MPs came to speak to him, just greeting them with a handshake as with others. No one from the Opposition, however, went to his desk.

Chairman Hamid Ansari then invited ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Azad to his chamber during the adjournment to explore if the House could be brought to order to resume debate. He, however, adjourned for the lunch break, on seeing another bout of ruckus from the Congress members sloganeering in the well.

Modi was back in the House after the recess, but the Opposition members again rushed into the well demanding “Maafi” (apology) from him for accusing them of helping the black money hoarders. The House was ultimately adjourned for the day.
Deputy Chairman Kurien, made repeated efforts to get the debate started, reprimanding the Opposition that it was stalling it all these days demanding that the PM should come to the House and answer them and it was not allowing the debate when the PM is already there. What else do you want, he asked the Opposition.

After both Houses adjourned for the day,  government sources said mainly the Congress, Left and Trinamool Congress were insisting on a vote on the debate on demonetization while the others had indicated they were ready for a discussion under any provision. 

“The Opposition stands exposed. For the third day, the Prime Minister was in the House.... But Opposition did not allow debate,” Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said, adding that it was made clear that he would intervene in the discussion.

With the Opposition alleging that the Prime Minister had attended house only for question hour in the morning,  Modi attended the Rajya Sabha after lunch. 

“The Opposition parties continued to protest. The cat was out of the bag. They are shying away from a debate... They cannot speak against demonetization.... The Congress was isolated in Rajya Sabha,” Naidu said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has asked all ministers to engage with their departments and even personal staff to sensitize them about digital economy, sources said.

At a book release function on Constitution Day, PM Modi had said, “Those who are criticizing demonetization don’t have problem with the government’s preparedness. Their problem is they didn’t get enough time to prepare... Had these people got 72 hours to make their preparation they would have lavished praise that there is no one like Modi.”