Oppn seeks apology from PM for black money remarks

A united Opposition on Friday sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling them “supporters of blackmoney, as they forced two adjournments of proceedings in Rajya Sabha till afternoon.

Congress, BSP and TMC members rushed into the Well of the House shouting slogans demanding an apology from the Prime Minister for his remarks, while the ruling benches matched them with slogans praising of Modi, creating a pandemonium forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till noon. When the House met again, similar scenes continued forcing another adjournment till 1430 hours.

Immediately after the House mourned the death of its former member Dipen Ghosh, Mayawati (BSP) was up on her feet saying the Prime Minister had this morning “wrongly accused opposition of holding blackmoney” and demanded that he should apologise for his remarks.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said when it was made very clear by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others during debate on demonetisation yesterday that the opposition is against blackmoney, how can Modi make such allegations. “How can Prime Minister level such an allegation... we are against blackmoney. Prime Minister must apologise,” he said as Congress and other opposition members trooped into the Well of House, raising slogans like “Pradhan Mantri maafi mango (Prime Minister apologise).” Amid the din, Kurien got the listed papers laid. Mayawati said Modi has stated that if opposition was given 72 hours before demonetising high denomination currency, they should not have opposed him and instead praised him. 

Painting the entire Opposition as those blackmoney is a lie, she said, adding that the Prime Minister has to apologise for his remarks.

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said Modi has levelled a serious allegation and should apologise. Ramgopal Yadav (SP) said there could not be anything more shameful than the Prime Minister alleging that the entire Opposition was a supporter of blackmoney.

Derek O’Brien (TMC) said there was a good debate on Thursday where everyone had opposed blackmoney. And the now Prime Minister is saying “he is a saint and we are all devils”, he said, also demanding an apology from Modi.

Kurien tried to reason with members for starting a debate but the Opposition members shouted slogans demanding an apology from Prime Minister. BJP members too countered them by raising slogans supporting Modi.

Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was heard saying that there was no question of apology from the Prime Minister, instead the Opposition should tender an apology.

In the meantime, Congress members trooped into the Well of the House.

Some BJP members were standing in the aisle as Congress members shouted “Pradhan Mantri maafi mango”.

As the uproar continued, Chair adourned the House till 2:30 pm.