Sharad Yadav, Arun Jaitley exchange barbs in Upper House
NEW DELHI: JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, whose party leader Nitish Kumar has welcomed demonetisation, today joined the rest of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha in attacking government on hardships arising out of the ban on high denomination currency notes.
Yadav also had a heated exchange of words with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley when the BJP leader needled him to check with his party before criticising the government on the issue.
The incident happened when members of the Congress, TMC, BSP and SP created a ruckus over their demand that the House mourn the killing of 25 armymen since surgical strikes and deaths of 82 persons in post-demonetisation hardships.
Yadav said this has never happened that seven armymen, including two officers, have been martyred at Nagrota army base near Jammu, but there has been no obituary reference.
“You say the demonetisation has been done in national interest, so have the 90 people, old and young, who have lost lives standing in queues (to get new currency),” he said.
At this, Jaitley retorted: “Sharadji, should first discuss within his party to know if it (the party) is in agreement with him or not.”
Yadav replied back that there are no differences. “We are not against demonetisation. We are against the destruction caused by the move.”
He also asked Jaitley why he had not responded to his demand for condolence.
Jaitley said: “If you want discussion (on the issue), let there be discussion.”
Yadav replied back saying first there should be condolence and then went on to ask if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was with him or not.