Amid note ban ruckus, TDP asks for release of special package for AP in LS

New Delhi: The issue of demonetisation continued to dominate both the Houses of Parliament on Day 3 of the Winter Session on Friday. Rajya Sabha was adjourned multiple times, while MPs in Lok Sabha struggled to raise various issues amid the ruckus created by members of the Opposition on note ban.

Here are the live updates from Parliament:

• Lok Sabha was adjourned till Monday at around 12.25 pm as Opposition leaders made it difficult for the House to transact any business for the day. Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2.30 pm and was later adjourned till Monday too.
• Leaders of the TDP party demanded that the govt make some advancement on the special package announced by the Centre in Lok Sabha. "We don’t want to constantly fight for out rights, no clarity even after two years, we asked for special status, government then granted special package but there has been no progress since the announcement," a TDP MP said.
• TDP MP spoke amid the ruckus over note ban, demanding the Centre to release the fund under the special package for Andhra Pradesh.
• Opposition members in Lok Sabha shout slogans like 'Vijay Mallya kaha hai', to protest the demonetisation move by government.
• Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha resumed at 12 pm, with Hamid Ansari presiding over the Upper House. RS MPs stood huddled near the Well and shouted against the Govt, leading to a third adjournment within three minutes.
• The Upper House resumed at 11.30 am, but members of the Opposition continued sloganeering against the Government, despite the speaker repeatedly urging them to co-operate with him. Kurien was forced to adjourned the house again till 12 noon.
• Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 11.30 am, after MPs refused to listen to the Chairman and continued creating ruckus in the House.
• "Please go back to your seat, you should cooperate with me for running the house," Rajya Sabha speaker P J Kurien urges members to maintain decorum in the House.
• Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.
• Rajya Sabha members protest against the government, rush into the Well of the House.
• BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asked Congress to apologise for their statements against the demonetisation move
• "Congress party and the honourable leader of the Opposition must apologise to the nation for trying to jeopardising the huge mission undertaken by the Prime Minister of this country to eliminate black money and corruption," BJP said in Rajya Sabha.
• "The Leader of Opposition said that the number of people killed by terrorists was much lesser than the number of people that were killed by demonetisation, this statement has sent a very negative message to the nation and it sent the message that the Congress party is encouraging terrorists, black money and is trying to put hurdles in the fight against black money," BJP leader Naqvi attacked the Congress for its statements against demonetisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier met senior leaders of his party to strategise a counter-offensive against the Opposition on the issue as the Parliament failed to transact much business on the first two days of Winter Session.

Opposition leaders have been demanding a roll back on the scrapping of Rs 500, 1000 notes, but the Finance Ministry had made it loud and clear that it will not take a step back at any cost.

Indian Youth Congress plans to gherao the Parliament on Friday to protest against demonetisation. The protest march will begin from the Indian Youth Congress' office at 5, Raisina Road.

This comes as the Congress Party is leaving no stone unturned to pigeon hole the government on what it called a hasty move.

On Day 2 of Winter Session, Opposition completely paralysed the Parliament, with Rajya Sabha disrupted over demand for the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his response in the demonetisation debate, which the government rejected outright.

The Upper House witnessed repeated adjournments but Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's reference to Uri terror attack in the context of demonetisation forced the final adjournment for the day.

Members of opposition parties, led by Congress, created uproar in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha as soon as the Houses met for the day and it continued throughout.

The Lok Sabha could carry out business only during the Question Hour, that too amid the uproar, after which it was adjourned for the day minutes past 12 PM.

The Rajya Sabha could not transact any business.