Note Ban: When Manmohan Spoke and Modi Listened in Rajya Sabha
Modi’s presence comes after days of uproar in the Parliament over the demonetisation move by opposition parties.
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- No over-the-counter exchange of old notes will be allowed from 25 November.
- Both Houses adjourned till 11 am on Friday
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the Parliament post lunch, creating uproar in the House
- Opposition comes down heavily on the Centre over demonetisation
- Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the demonetisation move an “organised loot and legalised plunder”
- Opposition parties will observe a ‘protest day’ on 28 November
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to make a statement in the Rajya Sabha while former Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh tore into the government’s move to demonetise Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
While the government is rolling out measures to facilitate better flow of digitised cash, on Thursday night, over-the-counter exchange of old notes was stopped starting 25 November.
Demonetisation Effect: Cash Seizures, Bank Heist
An amount of Rs 1.22 crore was looted from an OBC Bank branch in Saidpur in Haryana’s Sonipat district. ANI reported that an investigation was underway.
In Delhi, two people were caught with Rs 27 lakh in new currency notes at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.
Also on Thursday, Gujarat police also seized Rs 1.40 crore in demonetised currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from the office of a local builder and detained three persons.
In Nagpur, the police seized Rs 1 crore in cash (in old currency notes) from a private vehicle.
Government to Monitor Foreign Tourists With Old Notes
The Ministry of External Affairs said that that an inter-ministerial task force will be formed by the government to look into issues relating to foreign nationals/tourists in India holding old notes.
He added that Nepal and Bhutan were in touch with the RBI regarding the collection of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
Toll Exemption on Highways Extended
The government on Thursday extended the exemption on toll on highways till 2 December.
The Transport Ministry also said that Rs 500 notes will be accepted as toll charges at National Highways till 15 December, even after the exemption is withdrawn.
Jaitley Meets CEOs of Banks to Discuss Digital Banking
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday had a meeting with CEOs of the banks through video conference.
The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the expansion of digital banking in India.
He addressed the media after the meeting and said that even though there has been a huge expansion of e-wallets and debits cards, half of them are not active.
A task force has been set up to look into the expansion of e-wallet usage. The aim of the entire process will be shrinking of physical currency and growth of trade and business.
On being asked if the decision of using old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will be changed, he said that the decision would be communicated.
Shatrughan Sinha Warns Against Living in “Fool's Paradise”
BJP leader from Bihar, Shatrughan Sinha, in a series of tweets, spoke about the surveys conducted by people on the issue of demonetisation.
The tweets, which were posted right after the results of the NaMo app poll came out, seemed to be hinting at the results of the poll.
He later deleted the first two tweets.
Mangal Pandey, the president of BJP’s Bihar unit, told NDTV that Sinha should "consider joining the Congress if he finds everything wrong with PM's policies".
Sinha has slammed the government on many occasions in recent years.
Centre Files Report in SC: Attorney General
The Centre on Thursday filed a reply in the Supreme Court in compliance with the court’s earlier order on the demonetisation issue, said Attorney General of India Mukul Rohtagi.
The report mentioned the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to look into issues which could affect the process of demonetisation.
The affidavit said, “It is an attempt to unearth black money stashed over the last seven decades.”
The affidavit also mentioned that re-calibration of the ATMs was in full swing and fake currency notes have been rendered useless.
Four Lakh People Lost Their Jobs Post Demonetisation: Yechury
Sitaram Yechury on Thursday said that four lakh people have last their jobs after demonetisation and around 31.9 million people employed in the textile and government sector are not getting their wages.
He added that he had served a notice for moving a contempt resolution against the PM for not showing up in the House.
‘You’ve Created More Havoc Than Hitler’: Mamata to Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hitler after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee.
“Tax payers ko account se paise withdraw karne nahi de rahe. Ye kya Tughlaqi karobar chal raha hai? (Tax payers aren’t allowed to withdraw money from their accounts. Is this the Tughlaqi era?)”
Arun Jaitley Lashes Out at the Opposition
Addressing the media after the session was adjourned till 3 pm, Arun Jaitley said that parties who were once part of political scandals should not be maligning the government’s scheme.
He also attacked Mayawati saying that she will know the position of her party (BSP) when the UP elections happen next year.
Opposition Running From Debate: Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attacked the Opposition, saying that they are running away from debate. He further said that during the 2G scam, the same parties stalled debate in the House and that they can’t indulge in double standards now.
Jaitley also said that he would hold a video conference with bank officers to urge them to ask account holders to use debit card and e-wallet services more frequently.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 3 pm.
We Were Promised that the Prime Minister Will Be Present for Debate: Ghulam Nabi Azad
After making an appearance in the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the Parliament post lunch. Reacting to the same, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that a debate cannot go on till Modi is present for the entire discussion.
Are You a Messiah and Are We Devils? TMC’s Derek O’ Brien Slams Modi
TMC’s Derek O’Brien took charge of the debate on Thursday, slamming the government’s demonetisation move. Mocking Modi, he asked if the Prime Minister is a “messiah” and all the others, “devils”.
Calling the move a “financial chaos”, he asked the government to save the common man from suffering.
Directly attacking Finance Ministry Arun Jaitley, O’Brien also questioned why the government didn’t print enough Rs 100 notes and pump them in the market before rolling out the scheme.
He also challenged the government to put West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in jail, as a direct attack at the allegations regarding the Saradha scam.
‘Organised Loot and Legalised Plunder’: Former PM Manmohan Singh on Note Ban
The Congress on Thursday was on the offensive in the House, with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that while he agrees with the objectives of demonetisation, there has “been monumental mismanagement” with the way it has been implemented.
Without mincing any words, he added that the scheme is an “organised loot and legalised plunder”.
He further added that the move will hurt agricultural and small industries in the country.
Singh also said that he hopes the Prime Minister fill find a way to give relief to all the people suffering because of the move.
We Are Not Against Demonetisation, But Against its Implementation: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Talking in the Rajya Sabha, Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the opposition is not against demonetisation as a policy, but the implementation of it.
He expressed concern over the continuing deaths due to the move and said that the government should have been well prepared before rolling out a policy as important as this.
SP’s Naresh Agrawal Makes Modi Ji Smile
Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agrawal joked about the rumour that most Modi ministers did not know about the demonetisation announcement.
"There are those who say the PM did not take even (Finance Minister) Arun Jaitley into confidence. If Arunji had known, he would have whispered about it in my ears. He knows me," Agrawal said.
Didi to Meet President Pranab Mukherjee at 2 pm
Even though opposition parties on Thursday said that they will not hold talks with the government till 28 November, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to meet President Paranab Mukherjee at 2 pm.
This will be Banerjee’s second meeting with the President in a span of a week.
SP’s Akshay Yadav Throws Paper at Lok Sabha Speaker
Samajwadi Party’s Akshay Yadav tore a paper and threw it at Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan. The House has been adjourned till 12 pm.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar and MoS Parliament Affairs S S Ahluwalia met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan over papers thrown at her.
Amid continuing uproar over the note ban issue even in the Rajya Sabha, the house has been adjourned till 12 pm.
Modi’s Demonetisation Survey is Fake: BSP Chief Mayawati
Right before the House was adjourned, BSP chief Mayawati demanded to know why Prime Minister Modi hadn’t arrived in the Parliament yet.
“PM should come in the house and participate in the debate. Why is he running away?” she said.
Reacting to the news of a survey done through the Narendra Modi app, showing 93% respondents as satisfied with the move, Mayawati asserted that the survey is both “fake” and “sponsored”.
Former PM Manmohan Singh Can Talk Only if Opposition Resumes Debate: Arun Jaitley
The Opposition on Thursday demanded that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh be allowed to speak in the House.
However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley refuted the demand and said that he should be allowed to speak only after the Opposition resumes a debate on the issue of demonetisation.
Akhilesh Yadav Arrives to Meet PM Modi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has reached the Parliament to meet Prime Minister Modi. Modi is expected to discuss the note ban issue with opposition parties on Thursday.
Opposition Won’t Hold Talks With Govt Till 28 November
Before the session starts in the Parliament, opposition parties have gathered in Home Minister Rajnath Singh's chamber.
The parties have reportedly decided not to hold talks with the government on note ban till 28 November, according to ANI.
Talking about the meeting, Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge said:
“We’ll first meet the opposition and then decide whether we’ll go to meeting called by Home Minister or not”.
Opposition Parties to Hold ‘Protest Day’ Next Week
Opposition parties, including the Congress, SP, BSP , DMK, the Left and TMC, joined hands to hold a protest outside the Parliament on Wednesday over demonetisation. Even though SP and BSP supremos Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati respectively were missing from the symbolic protests, their MPs were present.
On Wednesday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi alleged that the note ban is a “scam.”
Prime Minister Modi to Attend Rajya Sabha
After five days of logjam in Parliament over demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
In addition, the leaders of the opposition parties protesting the demonetisation move will meet to chalk out a strategy on the government’s offer to end the chaos.
Uproar Over Demonetisation, Yet Again
While the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day around 12:30 pm on Wednesday, shortly after it met after an adjournment, the Rajya Sabha saw some heated action in the post-lunch meeting as an agitated Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien took to task the treasury members and MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
In the Lok Sabha, the opposition parties noisily protested to demand a debate on demonetisation under provisions of voting. The government refused to budge.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to the Lok Sabha when it assembled at 11 am.
(With inputs from IANS)
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