This Article is From Dec 09, 2016

First 2014, Then TIME Poll, No Vote On Notes Ban Needed, Says Government: 10 Points

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak on Notes Ban in Parliament on Wednesday.

Highlights

  • Parliament remains paralysed by stand-off over notes ban
  • Opposition says PM must apologise for cash crunch
  • Government says opposition must apologise for stalling work
New Delhi: Parliament remains gridlocked over how a debate on the government's notes ban should be conducted. This winter session of parliament ends on Friday. The opposition says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologise for and explain his sudden demonetisation drive which has left India without cash and villages, cut off from formal banking, struggling to transact. The government, on the other hand, says it is the opposition which must apologise for its serial disruptions, which have left parliament unable to get down to work.

Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:

  1. The government has reiterated that it will not acquiesce to a debate followed by a vote, as demanded by the opposition. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's huge win in 2014, recent victories in civic and state elections, and his emerging earlier this week as Time Person of the Year in an online poll establishes the extent of public support for his policies.

  2. "First, you don't let parliament function, then you ask for voting ... It will be embarrassing for you if there is voting. Voting was done in 2014... people have already given their mandate," said Mr Naidu.

  3. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi offered the opinion that if the government allows a debate on its controversial move, his speech will trigger "an earthquake". Mr Naidu's thoughts: "ket us hope we are not in parliament when the earthquake happens."

  4. The opposition appeared this morning to create some room for a compromise by offering the option of a "no rules debate", with free-wheeling discussion and a less structured format than what is usually employed, with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan empowered to decide on whether a vote is merited.

  5. But once parliament began, the usual angry exchanges between government and opposition members on the demonetisation drive led to disruptions and then the day being declared done or adjourned early.

  6. The government reminded the opposition of President Pranab Mukherjee's rebuke yesterday. "For God's sake, just do your jobs," he said, stressing that protests should be held "in the streets and not parliament."

  7. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says he is ready to present the government's stand, but the opposition dodges a discussion by resorting to calls for an apology by the PM and a vote.

  8. "The centre is not just sitting around doing nothing," said its top lawyer to the Supreme Court today, assuring that the current shortage of cash would be resolved "in 10-15 days' time".

  9. But a month after the sudden cancellation of 86% of the notes in circulation, banks are still short of new bills to give to customers desperate for cash.

  10. This session of parliament has seen important legislation stalled because of the stand-off over demonetisation. The national Goods and Services Tax or GST appears at risk. The government is keen on introducing GST in April. For that to happen, key proposals have to be cleared now. But the government's sudden move to cancel 500- and 1,000-rupee notes has alienated the opposition, with some parties saying they are rethinking support to India's biggest-ever tax reform.



Post a comment

Also Read

.