NEW DELHI, Nov 25:
The first working day of Parliament today saw the government being targeted over the issue of black money by opposition, which questioned what had been done so far to implement BJP’s poll promise, evoking an assurance that it could be discussed.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya witnessed uproar because of which the Lower House was adjourned briefly.
“100 days are over, where is the black money?” chanted members of Trinamool Congress, Congress, RJD, Samajwadi Party and AAP, who stormed the Well of the Lok Sabha minutes after it assembled for the day.
Today was the first working day of the Winter session as both Houses were adjourned yesterday after condoling the death of some sitting members.
In Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan went ahead with the Zero Hour unmindful of the slogan-shouting by the opposition members who chanted “bring back black money”.
The members said the government had promised to get back the black money stashed abroad within 100 days of coming to power but had failed to do so.
Mahajan pleaded with the agitating members to go back to their seats, even assuring them that she would try for an early debate on the issue in consultation with various political parties. But, her pleas went unheeded.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government had nothing to hide and was ready to discuss the issue. He said the Government has done a lot in the last six months on the black money issue.
The Rajya Sabha also saw uproarious scenes over the issue, with members from JD-U, Samajwadi Party and TMC on their feet when the House assembled for the day.
They kept shouting slogans and waving papers attacking the Government on the black money issue.
Derek O’Brien (TMC) raised the issue after lunch saying, “The Government has made some assurances outside the House on bringing back black money. But no black money has come…There was a lot of hope on this issue, but the government is not delivering. There has to be some structured discussion on this issue. This is not about one or two political parties but all the parties.”
Responding to this, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the member raised an important issue and the government is “too willing to discuss the issue” whenever the parties want in consultation with the Chairman.
In the Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), who led the protest shouted, “We want black money back and not just discussion.”
He made the remark when the Speaker observed that they were not interested in a discussion.
Leader of the Congress in the House Mallikarjun Kharge demanded an apology from the government, saying the BJP leaders, including Narendra Modi, “defamed” the UPA government over the black money issue in the Lok Sabha poll campaign and had promised to bring it back in 100 days.
Naidu hit back alleging that most of the black money went abroad during Congress rule in the last 50 years. “No black money has gone out during our time,” he said.
He also criticised the Prime Minister when he has gone abroad. Modi is in Nepal to attend the SAARC Summit.
Earlier, as soon as the House met for the day, members from Trinamool Congress rushed to the Well holding black umbrellas with slogans like ‘bring back black money’ painted on them.
They were soon joined by members from Congress, RJD, AAP and Samajwadi Party who also raised slogans demanding a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to when the black money will be brought back.
The Speaker warned the members against displaying umbrellas and said they should desist from using such tactics to show their protest.
Kharge said his party has given a notice for suspension of Question Hour. But Speaker said it was against the rules though she was willing to accommodate a debate on black money under other rules.
SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was sitting next to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, tried to speak on the issue but could not be heard amid din.
Amid uproar, the House took up two questions during Question Hour but the reply was not audible in the din. (PTI)
The Speaker then adjourned the House for 40 minutes till noon.
The issue figured again when the House reassembled for Zero Hour. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel