Both Houses adjourned till 2 p.m. following ruckus over demonetisation

New Delhi [India], Dec. 5(ANI): Parliament was adjourned till 2 p.m. on Monday, as the opposition members continued to raise their voices against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to run the Question Hour, as the opposition kept demanding answers from Prime Minister Modi. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh stated that demonetisation was good for the country. "Demonetisation is for national interest. I thank the opposition that they never doubted the government's motive behind demonetisation," he added. Singh urged the opposition to start the discussion as the government is fully prepared for it. He added that the Centre would incorporate suggestions from the opposition over demonetisation move. "We are ready to debate on this issue right now. We want to know what difficulties are there in implementation. We will work on any implementation difficulty pointed out. The prime minister took this step to stop terrorism, black money and corruption," he added. "Don't send out wrong message that opposition is against discussion. Are we wrong if we talk of people their plight? The government has majority. They are elected representatives but are still running away from voting," Singh said. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge asked the government not to send wrong message that the opposition is against discussion. "The government has majority. They are elected representatives but are still running away from voting," he said. "People are dying. They are not getting their salaries. Unemployment is on the rise and GDP is falling," Kharge added. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till 2 p.m. today as the opposition Congress members continued to protest against demonetisation. As soon as the House re-assembled at noon after its first adjournment, Congress members raised slogans from their seats forcing Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House for the second time. He repeatedly asked the agitating members to allow the House to take up Question Hour. Earlier, as the House met for the day, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed concern over non-availability of cash to the people following demonetisation. He alleged that ATMs are made non-functional intentionally. Congress members trooped into the well raising slogans against the government. Deputy Chairman Prof. P. J. Kurien asked the members to go back to their seats and start discussion on the issue. Stating that discussion is the only solution to address the issue, he said the government is ready to reply. Later he adjourned the House as noisy scene continued. (ANI)