In Rajya Sabha today: ‘Sarkar Sari Mast Hai, Ram Naam Satya Hai’

Opposition today accused the Government of "shameless conduct" by refusing to mourn the death of over 100 persons due to hardships caused by demonetisation, as opposition and treasury benches clashed in Rajya Sabha forcing its adjournment minuters after it met for the day.

No sooner were the listed papers laid, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said 115 persons have lost their lives in 30 days since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced junking of old ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes. Their death should be mourned in the House, he said.

Even before he could finish, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu was up on his feet saying "this is politics. Let there be a discussion (on the issue)... November 8 (when the demonetisation was announced) is a historic day." He said an unruly opposition has been disrupting proceedings every day.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said more than 100 farmers, women, youth and elderly persons have lost their lives in last one month due to hardships caused from wrong policies of the government.

"We wanted this House to mourn their death but the government has refused an obituary reference," he said, adding that the Opposition was left with no option and 150 MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha belonging to 16 opposition parties observed 'Black Day' in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament House complex.

People do not have money and the government says there is enough currency in circulation, the senior Congress leader said, adding "this is the limit of shamelessness."

At this point, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley got up to reply but opposition members began raising slogans. They were countered by slogan shouting from the treasury benches. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the unfinished discussion on demonetisation should resume immediately.

"Nobody is being heard," Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Hamid Ansari remarked as he asked members to resume their places. With none heeding to his pleas, he adjourned the proceedings till noon.

No sooner did the House reassemble at noon, opposition Congress MPs started raising slogans like 'Sarkar Sari Mast Hai, Ram Naam Satya Hai' as the Chairman called for start of the Question Hour. Members of other opposition parties too were seen raising slogans and so were those from the treasury benches.