Winter Session appears headed for a washout

New Delhi: The issue of demonetisation, which seems to have backfired on the government, threatens to wash out the entire Winter Session with the third week ending on Friday without transaction of any substantial business owing to Opposition ruckus over the issue. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha continued to be deadlocked over the way a debate should take place on demonetisation.

While maintaining attack on the government over demonetisation, the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Friday created disruptions by raising the issue of slashing of import duty on wheat from 10 per cent to nil. The House was, however, finally adjourned for the day because of lack of quorum.

Ever since the session began on November 16, the Lok Sabha has managed to conduct only two legislative actions — passage of Income Tax Amendment Bill and approval of Supplementary Demand for Grants — that too amid din and without much debate.

The Rajya Sabha has functioned normally only on the first day of the session when the debate on demonetisation was initiated and held for about five hours.

With a four-day holiday in between, the session has only three working days left before it concludes on December 16.

In the Lok Sabha, the stand-off over demonetisation intensified on Friday with the government hitting back at the Opposition and demanding apology for paralysing the Parliament, citing the adverse comments by President Pranab Mukherjee.

In the Rajya Sabha, members of Congress, BSP, SP, JD(U) and Left protested against slashing of import duty on wheat, saying it will hit the farmers hard particularly when the country has enough buffer stock.

Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said there was no shortage of wheat in the country and the decision was taken to cool down domestic prices which have shown an upward trend in recent weeks. “This is not a permanent decision”, he said, indicating it can be reviewed if need arises.

Minister of state for agriculture Parsottambhai Rupala said the decision was necessitated as domestic prices were rising. The government uses market intervention to keep prices in check, he said, adding the decision on import duty will be reconsidered if farmers faced problems.

Earlier, raising the issue, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said he had given a notice under Rule 267 to suspend business of the day to discuss the decision that will “ruin Indian farmers” while “MNCs will rake in super-profits”.

Condemning the decision, he said it will hit hard the farmers who are already suffering due to demonetisation because of which they are unable to buy seeds and fertiliser.

Describing the move to reduce import duty as “shameful act”, Mr Yechury said it will lead to food riots. “This is against the interest of the nation and its farmes. It is an anti-national act,” he said.

“He (farmer) has to make distress sale,” he said, adding wheat is being sold at Rs 700-800 per qunital as against MSP of Rs 1,540 fixed by the government.

Bhupinder Yadav (BJP) said another 267 notice cannot be taken up if debate has resumed and remained inconclusive on another notice accepted under the same Rule.

As Mr Kurien moved to Zero Hour mentions, Opposition members trooped in the Well raising slogans like “Kisan virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (anti-farmer government will not be tolerated)”, forcing adjournment till noon.

After a couple of more adjournments, the House was finally adjourned till next week over lack of quorum.