A united Opposition stalled proceedings on the first working day of the Parliament’s winter session on Tuesday, demanding the BJP government fulfill its promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs shouted slogans in the Lok Sabha and entered the well of the House carrying black umbrellas with “bring back black money” emblazoned on them. “Please close the umbrellas, they are not allowed,” Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan told the MPs.
Members of other parties soon joined the shouting brigade with Congress MPs, too, entering the well of the House, forcing Mahajan to adjourn the question hour.
“We are ready for discussion. Our government has done a lot on the black money issue after the last government did not do anything for the last 10 years,” parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu said after the House resumed work at noon.
However, Opposition MPs refused to yield, with TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee leading the way. “Discussion time is over. Bring back the black money,” he shouted.
The Rajya Sabha also saw scenes of uproar, with Opposition members trooping into the well of the House when finance minister Arun Jaitley was introducing new ministers.
{{/usCountry}}The Rajya Sabha also saw scenes of uproar, with Opposition members trooping into the well of the House when finance minister Arun Jaitley was introducing new ministers.
{{/usCountry}}“There was a lot of hope on this issue, but the government is not delivering,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien said.