- Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice president, claims to have corruption-related “personal information” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Rajya Sabha passed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill with 119 amendments.
- Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day after Opposition members created ruckus over graft allegations against Minister of State (Home), Kiren Rijiju.
- Lok Sabha adjourned for the day as members from both sides create ruckus over AgustaWestland.
- Huge amounts of money in old and new currency were seized in different parts of the country.
Rajya Sabha in a Tizzy Over Graft Allegations Against Kiren Rijiju
The Opposition members raised slogans in the Rajya Sabha after Congress member Anand Sharma raised his notice to discuss the graft charges against Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (Home).
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley dared the sloganeering members to allow Sharma to make his point and then listen to his answer over “gross allegations” against Rijiju.
Prakash Javadekar Takes a Dig at Rahul Gandhi
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar held a press conference to address questions raised after Rahul Gandhi claimed to have “personal information” related to corruption against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Wo kehte hain bolunga to bhukamp aa jayega. Hum kehte hain bolo,bhukamp nahi aayega, unke pairo taley zameen khisak jayegi. 50 din tak gum hone ki aadat aapki hai pradhanmantri ji ki nahi. (He says his statements will cause earthquake. We say his statements will only shake the floor under his feet.)
Watch the press conference here.
Rajya Sabha Passes on Disabilities Bill
The Rajya Sabha passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill with all of the 119 amendments.
As Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2 pm after being adjourned at 12 noon and resumed the vote on amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 moved by Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.
BJP Members Refute Rahul Gandhi’s Claim
Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s statements about Prime Minister Narendra Modi being scared of letting him speak in the Parliament.
As Rahul Gandhi joined the United Democratic Front (UDF) from Kerala at Jantar Mantar to protest against demonetisation, government members questioned the ruckus created by the Opposition throughout the Winter Session.
Unfortunately, since day 1, the opposition is giving one or other excuse so that the Parliament doesn’t function. People elected us to discuss not create mayhem. Opposition seems determined to not allow Parliament to run even in last 2 days (of the winter session).Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office
Why did Congress and Rahul ji not allow the House to function and have proper debate on demonetisation issue in last 15 days?Venkaiah Naidu, Urban Development Minister
Allegations levelled against Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi by Congress vice president are baseless. Rahul Gandhi ji has lost patience. If Rahul Gandhi had information, he could have revealed it 20 days ago. But till today he was not ready to make any earth-shattering revelations.Ananth Kumar, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Parliamentary Affairs
Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker of the Lok Sabha indirectly agreed with the Centre’s argument by saying:
Both things cannot happen at the same time that you (Opposition) protest in the Well and also ask for discussion.