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Rajya Sabha Adjourned Multiple Times Over Demonetisation Row

Congress and AIADMK members trooped into the Well, forcing Deputy Chairman PK Kurien adjourn the house.
PRAKASH SINGH VIA GETTY IMAGES

NEW DELHI -- Opposition parties led by Congress today forced two adjournments in the Rajya Sabha in the pre-noon session demanding a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the hardships caused to people by demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 rupee notes.

Slogan-shouting Congress and AIADMK members trooped into the Well, forcing Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to first adjourn the House till 11:30 AM and again then till noon.

Soon after the House mourned the passing away of Swaminarayan sect head Pramukh Swami Shastri Narayan Swarup Das, TMC's Derek O'Brien was up on his feet.

As Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien allowed O'Brien to make his submission, slogan shouting AIADMK members trooped into the Well raising slogans demanding that Karnataka release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

They however went back to their seats after Kurien assured that he will allow their leader A Navaneethakrishnan to speak after the TMC leader.

All hell broke lose when Derek asked where the Prime Minister was when the House discusses hardships and inconvenienced caused by the decision to withdraw old ₹500 and ₹1,000 rupee notes.

"The person who made the (demonetisation) announcement at 8 o'clock on November 8, where is he," he said.

Treasury benches countered him vociferously with even Ministers including I&B Minister M Venkaiah Naidu rising to counter the demand.

At this point, Congress members trooped into the Well of the House shouting "Pradhan Mantri jawab do" (Prime Minister, reply)."

Kurien said the discussion on demonetisation was going on smoothly. "If Finance Minister is available, that is enough," he said.

The discussion, which was initiated after suspending listed business of the day yesterday, could be resumed if the House is in order, he said. "We can start discussion now," he said.

At this point, AIADMK members also trooped into the Well shouting slogans, forcing Kurien to adjourn the House till 1130 hours.

(This is a developing story. More details awaited.)

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.