New Delhi:
A notice by Congress to bring an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha on the issue of black money was rejected by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
She, however, agreed to look into the demand of the Opposition to hold discussion at the earliest on the subject which is listed towards the end of today’s agenda.
Mahajan informed the House that the adjournment motion moved by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, M Veerappa Moily and Kamal Nath among others does not fulfil the criteria under Rule 56 as it was not a new issue as the matter has been discussed in the previous Lok Sabha.
She also said the Question Hour cannot be suspended to take up the discussion.
On the request of Jyotiraditya Scindia (Cong) and Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) to take up the discussion at the earliest, the Speaker said she will see to it that the debate is taken up as soon as possible though she did not give any time.
Kharge said the issue was new as it related to the promises made by Narendra Modi ahead of Lok Sabha polls to bring back black money within 100 days of coming to power and failure to do so amounted to “violation of promises” by the Prime Minister.
Earlier, Bandhopadhyay said placing the discussion on black money as the last item on today’s agenda was like discussing black money in the darkness of night. “...kali raat mein kale dhan pe charche,” he said.
Dubbing the allegations levelled by the opposition as “baseless”, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said during NDA’s rule no black money went out of the country. “Whatever happened, happened in your tenure...we are ready for discussion...the timings are decided by the Speaker,” he said.
