New Delhi:
Opposition parties today staged protests in the Parliament complex, cornering the government over blackmoney and reconversion issues.
The TMC staged protest over the blackmoney issue, in front of the Gandhi statue in the complex, while the Samajwadi Party joined by the JD(U) demonstrated at the same venue, accusing the government of not fulfilling the promises made before the Lok Sabha elections.
The first protest by TMC MPs, with whom the government has had an uneasy relationship over the Saradha scam, targeted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for calling opposition parties, as obstructionist.
Responding to Jaitley’s criticism that the Opposition was not allowing Rajya Sabha to function, TMC MP Saugata Roy said, “He (Jaitley) blamed the opposition parties and the TMC for not being able to implement the so-called reform agenda.
“But why is the finance minister not being able to bring back the blackmoney from abroad? That is the question that he will have to answer. We along with other opposition parties are protesting in Rajya Sabha against BJP’s communal agenda including religious conversions. He is unable to pass any reform bills and instead blaming us for being obstructionists.”
A group of Samajwadi Party and JD(U) MPs also protested against the government raising slogans “kala dhan wapas lao” (bring back the blackmoney), “Gandhi hum sharminda hain, tere katil zinda hain” (Gandhi, we are ashamed as your killers are still alive), “vadakhilafi band karo” (do not renege on your promises).
“The government has failed on every front and has gone back on their promises. Where is the blackmoney which was promised by the BJP during the election? He had said blackmoney will be brought back and Rs 15 lakh would be transferred to every account. That is not happening.
“We want farmers to get 1.5 times more money than the cost of production,” Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters outside Parliament.
Asked whether Samajwadi Party would join hands with other Janta Parivar parties in staging more such protests, to which Yadav responded in the affirmative.
