Demonetisation can’t prevent black money, terror funding: Manmohan Singh

The gurdwara wedding will take place in Chandigarh on November 30 which will be followed by another wedding as per Hindu rituals in Goa on December 2. This has not been officially confirmed but source based reports suggest that a decision to this effect has been taken.

Amid uproar and slogan shouting, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second time till 3 pm on Thursday as the Opposition refused to let the proceedings go on pressing for the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during debate on demonetisation.

Singh, he said, can participate after the debate, which started on the opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament on November 16, resumes. The Trinamool Congress held a rally at the Jantar Mantar here, attended by leaders of several opposition parties, including the Janata Dal-United, Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party and the Aam Aadmi Party. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi suggested that the House first take up the discussion and Dr Singh can participate. Now we have Modi Antoinette.

When the Upper House convened after lunch and Modi was absent, the government tried to reassure lawmakers that he would eventually return for the debate. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has attacked PM Modi for speaking at a rock concert and avoiding Parliament.

Gandhi said the opposition wanted a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the issue.

There have been chaotic scenes in India ever since the currency ban was announced two weeks ago. The ruling party benches in the House were largely empty. The resolution was moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Singh was elected to Parliament defeating BJP heavyweight and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley from the prestigious Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. The government is also confident of Shiv Sena also coming on the board, they added. “In the French revolution, they said if you don’t have bread, eat cake”. As almost 200 Opposition MPs staged protest outside Parliament, the Congress vice president said: “What the PM has done is the biggest impromptu financial experiment in the world”. The AIADMK that has been soft towards the government joined the Opposition on this issue.

Opposition parties led by Congress have stalled parliament, demanding a reply from Modi and compensation for the families of dozens of people reported to have died while queuing at banks to swap old money for new.