New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed a fierce debate on the recent note ban imposed by the Modi govt. Congress leader Anand Sharma led the Opposition's charge, asking Centre why 'were all Indians being criminalised' by the move.
"86% of the currency in the markets was 500/1000 notes, was scrapped by just one announcement. Was it all black?," Sharma asked the House.
BJP hit back at Congress for criticising demonetisation and said despite facing hardships the common man in India was lauding the government's 'surgical strike' against black money.
Here are live updates from Rajya Sabha:
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“This is historic step against corruption and only Prime Minister Narendra Modi could do it. Yes, there were shortcoming, but PM is holding review meetings and we are taking steps. There are separate lines for aged at banks and ATMs, toll free highways, etc.,” says Venkaiah Naidu in Rajya Sabha.
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“The ban will put an end to large amounts of counterfeit currency, put an end to aiding, abetting and terror funding. I know there is heartburn and some people are angry at Prime Minister Modi. He is not just the tallest leader in India, but is being recognized as that in the world,” said Naidu.
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Naidu attack Congress, saying under whose rule was the coal scam and 2G scam? You (Congress) should be mindful of your words, it will boomerang and hurt you because you have ruled and ruined the country for years. Those who side with the offenders will be taken to task.
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“This is war on black money, opposition should choose its side. People are saying it was sudden. Should people be warned to take precautions and move the money elsewhere and make necessary arrangements? Swachh means clean India and Swachh has to be mann se, tann se and dhan se,” said Naidu.
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“Temporary pain for long term gain and I can assure if your money is valid, it will not become invalid,” added Naidu.
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“Even after all the inconveniences, people across the country are praising Prime Minister Modi,” said Naidu.
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“Terrorists, smugglers, Maoists, separatists etc are using black and counterfeit money - is their fundamental right? Congress must take a stand if they do or don't support the notes ban,” said Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
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“It seems like India has shutdown and many people have lost their lives due to this move. It would have been better if Prime Minister was present in the discussion,” said Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.
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“Besides the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) and investigation, till alternate arrangements are not made, government should allow old currency notes must be used for white transactions,” said Yechury.
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"People are suffering and the suffering is increasing by the day. Why are you agonising people. What is this fascistic way of controlling people's personal lives. There is a 'chamakta' (shining) India, for those electronic wallets are viable but what about the 'tarasta' (troubled) Bharat. What is the mayhem you have created? There so many suicides and people can't get their father, mother treated in hospital," Yechury said.
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CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury compared Modi to French Queen Mary Antoinette and said, “now we have Modi Antoinette who is telling the common man, ‘If you don't have paper, use plastic’ what is the coverage of your plastic money?”
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“Black money is not going to be solved by this (demonetisation), black money is not a stock, it keeps flowing, this way you are killing the small fish, whereas the crocodiles are enjoying their lives,” Sitaram Yechury said.
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JDU chief Sharad Yadav took on the Modi government over demonetisation and accused it of “shutting down India for many days”. “It’s as if the government has pushed all Indians out of a running train,” Yadav said.
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"The RBI is called the custodian of the Indian economy, but it has totally failed the rural Indians," said AIADMK leader Satyanarayan Jatiya. He cited the example of an Andhra Pradesh farmer who committed suicide after the government scrapped old notes because she feared she would lose all her savings.
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The AIADMK MP said Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa is completely against black money, but the Central government’s move to demonetise notes was punishing those who have nothing to do with illegal transactions.
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“A man wishes to celebrate his daughter’s wedding with pomp and fervour, but such a situation has been created in the country that parents are forced to either postpone the wedding or break it off,” Samajwadi Party said.
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Rajya Sabha was briefly adjourned for an hour at 1 pm.
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Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav hit out at government over demonetisation and said, “This is the first time that I have seen people turning into beggars despite having money at their disposal.”
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“10-12% of the people in this country hold 90% of the country’s wealth, can you tell me if even a single person from that 10-12% is standing in queues outside banks. Farmers are unable to buy fertilisers for their crops, a potato farmer told me nobody is buying his produce and it is rotting away. Are these farmers holding black money?” Ram Gopal Yadav said.
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Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad requested the government to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Rajya Sabha session and listen to what the Opposition parties had to say on various issues.
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"We are not revealing the names of those who have stashed their money in Swiss banks, because once we make the names public, then the notices that we want from the foreign governments, we will stop receiving them. Does the Congress want us to give the names to public so that the culprits can find an escape route?," BJP asked Congress.
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“This step is a celebration of honesty; everybody agrees that the trouble caused by the note ban is only temporary. The people of the country are ready to suffer a little because they know that this step has been taken by Narendra Modi to fight black money, corruption, drugs and terrorism,” BJP said.
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"Many people have been facing problems due to demonetisation and we sympathise with them, but we will have to make sacrifices to eliminate black money. Despite hardship, India is supporting Modi’s decision to demonetise big notes," BJP leader Piyush Goel said, hitting back at Congress.
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BSP chief Mayawati interrupted BJP leader Piyush Goel and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take part in the discussion.
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Congress alleged that govt’s decision to ban higher denominations was ‘secretly leaked’, claiming that BJP deposited crores before demonetisation was imposed.
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"The Prime Minister has criminalised the common man of India who has been lining up outside banks for the past 5-6 days," Congress alleged.
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"If you were fully prepared for the move, then why was there no cash in banks? They later said it would take time for ATMs to be recalibrated."
- “Black money is stashed by the rich, why are the poor being punished for their crimes. Do farmers have credit cards? Which economy works without cash?” said Congress.
- The government has created an environment where nobody is allowed to question the decisions of those in power, Congress alleged.
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Congress claimed that the government has a list of those holding black money in Swiss Banks and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reveal their names.
Lok Sabha on the other hand was adjourned till Thursday after members maintained a two-minute silence for former members who passed away.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier addressed the media from Parliament premises, making a last minute appeal to the Opposition for their co-operation to achieve a 'fruitful' session.
“In the winter session, a very positive discussion will happen and on all issues with contribution of all parties. In last session an important bill like GST was passed, it was a big step. I had thanked all parties then,” Modi said.
The government is willing to discuss all issues and answer the questions raised by the opposition, Modi said, hoping for a fruitful session as he recalled the passage of the GST Bill in the last session with the cooperation of all parties.
Modi on Tuesday had met opposition leaders and sought their cooperation in the fight against black money and corruption for which, he said, the demonetisation exercise was undertaken.
In his concluding remarks at an all-party meeting on the eve of the Winter Session, Modi spoke in support of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls. He pitched for state-funding of elections and asked parties to debate the issue.
