Start of winter session
Overview |
| The winter session of Parliament started on a rocky note with Congress and Trinamool Congress leading opposition protests in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The Congress-led opposition was initially insistent on an adjournment motion, then a debate on demonetization followed by voting.
However both sides blamed each other for the ruckus and for not letting each other speak.
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Contentious issues creating friction
What |
| BJP leaders brought up VVIP chopper scam and said there were allegations against Gandhi family; they accused Congress for running away from debate.
Opposition was adamant on demonetization debate but they accused PM Modi and BJP leaders for not letting senior opposition leaders speak.
Opposition also demanded MoS Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju's resignation for his alleged involvement in the ₹450-crore Arunachal hydropower project scam.
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Rahul Gandhi's accuses PM Modi
FACT |
| On Wednesday, Gandhi said he had proof of PM Modi's "personal corruption" . As rebuttal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Anant Kumar, said Gandhi's claims were baseless and was diverting from a sting that showed Congress leaders converting black money; he called Congress "note-jugaad" party. |
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Winter Parliament session nears its end
16 Dec 2016 |
| The winter session of the Parliament is likely to be a complete washout as the deadlock between the government and the opposition parties continues.
Both sides have remained at loggerheads for a majority of the time since they were unable to agree on how the demonetization debate must take place.
The winter session started on a stormy note four weeks ago on November 16.
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Dismay all around
Who said what |
| Senior BJP leader, LK Advani for the second time in recent days said he was utterly dismayed with the Parliament's functioning and said aloud that, "He felt like resigning."
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also had strong words of disapproval for behaviour of MPs and said, "When the House does not run, I am really pained. Parliament is for discussion."
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Deadlock to continue
Why |
| Congress's Ghulam Nabi Azad said it was the ruling party that is disrupting both houses and not letting it function.
Since Gandhi made serious allegations against PM Modi, a senior minister said, "We don't see a chance of the deadlock being resolved."
Sloganeering from ruling and opposition benches continued; Mayawati (BSP), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) and Derek O'Brien (TMC) tried speaking but they weren't heard.
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No respite in sight
FACT |
| The winter session ends on Friday, December 16. Over 80% of the time in both houses has been lost due to the standoff between ruling party and opposition parties in attempting to discuss demonetization. |
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Note ban should have been done in 1971: Prime Minister
16 Dec 2016 |
| Staunchly defending the demonetization announcement, PM Modi said, "We needed to do it in 1971. We have caused huge losses by not doing this since 1971."
Targeting Congress, Modi said that it has always put its interests over the country's whereas BJP regards the nation's interests as supreme.
Appealing to the masses, he pitched to make digital economy "a way of life."
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"Keep meeting me," says PM to Rahul Gandhi
16 Dec 2016 |
| On Friday, Rahul Gandhi led a Congress delegation to meet the Prime Minister to highlight the situation of farmers in India.
The delegation presented a memorandum to Modi on demands of farmers, including a loan waiver, reducing power bills to half and a remunerative MSP for farm produce.
According to sources, the PM heard everything patiently and asked Rahul Gandhi to "keep meeting him."
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Opposition disgruntled over Rahul's meeting with PM Modi
17 Dec 2016 |
| The opposition displayed their annoyance at Congress because of Rahul Gandhi's meeting with Modi for loan waiver for farmers in UP.
Opposition parties blamed Congress for showing weakness.
The opposition's plans to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and collectively present a memorandum condemning the government for the winter session washout were thwarted as BSP, SP, Left, NCP didn't attend the meeting.
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Congress calls opposition meet over demonetization
27 Dec 2016 |
| The Congress has called for a meeting of all opposition parties to discuss the demonetization scheme and has scheduled a press conference for later today.
The press conference will be addressed by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders; however, the Left, JD(U) and the NCP will not attend.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury stated that the meeting was not planned or organized properly.
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