Opposition uproar over PNB fraud stalls Parliament
LOGJAM Both Houses adjourned; special package for Andhra Pradesh and Cauvery water board issues too hamper proceedings
Opposition’s unrelenting protest over Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud involving Nirav Modi and Telugu Desam Party’s demand for special package to Andhra Pradesh washed the first day of the second leg of Parliament’s budget session on Monday.
Congress MPs trooped into the well of the Lok Sabha demanding a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the fraud case.
The members of the principal opposition raised slogans such as Nirav Modi ko vapas lao (bring Nirav Modi back) in the Rajya Sabha. Trinamool Congress MPs joined the protest in both the Houses and demanded that all the businesses be suspended to debate the issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the house during the protest.
The Opposition asked the government to reveal the whereabouts of diamantaire Nirav Modi who along with his associates is accused of committing a fraud of over ~12,700 crore. The fraud came to light last month after the country’s second largest state-run lender PNB reported that it has detected a fraud in award of LoUs to the designer diamond jewellery maker.
The question hour was washed out in the Lok Sabha and the
NEWDELHI:
opposition was unrelenting when the House met again at noon. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan then adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day.
After Rajya Sabha resumed work at 2 pm following two brief adjournments in the morning, deputy chairman PJ Kurien offered a a short duration discussion on frauds in public sector banks if the members allowed. But the Opposition members continued to raise slogans.
Stating that it was “indiscipline”, Kurien asked Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad if the Opposition would allow a discussion, to which the Congress leader said that if the other parties were ready, he had no objection. Azad said the government and the Prime Minister had “failed” and the banks were without money while the likes of Nirav Modi were absconding. Kurien then adjourned the House for the day.
TDP MPs too resorted to slogan shouting in both the Houses demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The AIADMK and the DMK — the two rival parties in Tamil Nadu – also came together to demand implementation of the court order on constitution of Cauvery Water Management Board.