United Oppn tears into Modi in RS over black money comment

New Delhi: Proceedings in Parliament were washed out for the seventh straight day on Friday with the Opposition targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his utterances against those opposing demonetisation and demanding an apology from him for "wrongly accusing the opposition of holding black money".

The government, however, rejected the demand.

Members of parties like Congress, Trinamool Congress, SP, BSP and Left created uproar in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, taking strong objection to Modi's comments this morning that "some people" are criticising demonetisation because "the government did not give any time to them to make any preparation (to convert black money into white)."

In the Rajya Sabha, as soon as the House met for the day and mourned the death of its former member Dipen Ghosh, BSP leader Mayawati was on her feet saying the Prime Minister had this morning "wrongly accused opposition of holding black money" and demanded that he should apologise for his remarks.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad questioned how Modi could make such allegations when it was made very clear by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others during debate on demonetisation on Thursday that the opposition is against black money.

"How can Prime Minister level such an allegation? ... We are against black money. Prime Minister must apologise," he said as Congress and other opposition members trooped into the

Well of the House, raising slogans like "Pradhan Mantri maafi mango (Prime Minister apologise)." BJP members also came into the aisles and raised slogans supporting  Modi to counter the Opposition onslaught against the government and the Prime Minister.

Amid the din, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said a notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to take up discussion on ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes has been received from Azad. "I am ready to admit that motion provided you are ready for discussion," he said.

Azad said his notice was conditional upon the Prime Minister coming to the House and listening to the entire debate and replying to it.

He said when Modi had on Thursday come to Rajya Sabha, "I had on behalf of the entire opposition welcomed him" and also asked whether he had come to participate in the demonetisation debate or in the Question Hour.

Kurien said it had been clarified by Leader of the House Arun Jaitley that the Prime Minister will come and intervene in the debate.

But Azad disagreed, saying "we were promised that Prime Minister will be in the House till the debate is over" but Modi did not return after the lunch hour on Thursday.

"Prime Minister says opposition is favouring black money. This is an insult of the House and of the Opposition. When we have said we are against black money, when entire Opposition has said the same, how can he say that? Prime Minister should apologise," Azad said.

Mayawati said Modi has stated that if Opposition was given 72 hours before demonetising high denomination currency, they would not have opposed him and instead praised him.

Painting the entire Opposition as those having black money is "a lie", she said, adding that the Prime Minister will have to apologise for his remarks.

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said Modi has levelled a serious allegation and should apologise, while Ramgopal Yadav (SP) said there could not be anything more shameful than the Prime Minister alleging that the entire Opposition was a supporter of black money.

Derek O'Brien (TMC) said there was a good debate on Thursday where everyone had opposed black money. And now Prime Minister is saying "he is a saint and we are all devils". He also demanded an apology from Modi.

Kurien tried to reason with members for resuming the debate on demonetisation but Opposition members shouted slogans demanding an apology from Prime Minister. BJP members too countered them by raising slogans supporting Modi.

As the pandemonium continued, Kurien adjourned the proceedings till noon.

When the House reassembled and Chairman Hamid Ansari called the first question of the day, Congress members objected to taking up the Question Hour.

Leader of the Opposition Azad again referred to the remarks of the Prime Minister during the book release function earlier in the day.

"(The Prime Minister) levelled serious allegations on the entire Opposition. Opposition MPs are in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha...(MLAs and MLCs in) state assemblies," he said, adding that the Opposition cannot remain silent when serious allegations are levelled against them.

Azad said the Prime Minister has levelled allegations that the Opposition favoured black money holders. "The Prime Minister should apologise," the senior Congress leader said.

Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was heard saying that there was no question of apology from the Prime Minister, instead the Opposition should tender an apology.

At this point, Congress members trooped into the Well raising slogans as several BJP members were also seen standing in the aisles and shouting back.

As the uproar continued, Chair adourned the House till 1430 hours. Similar unruly scenes erupted again when the House reassembled, forcing Kurien to call it a day.