Government not mourning cash-crunch deaths is ‘shameful’: Azad

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 8

The Opposition on Thursday accused the government of "shameless conduct" by refusing to mourn the death of over 100 persons due to hardships caused by demonetisation, as Opposition and treasury benches clashed in the Rajya Sabha forcing its adjournment minutes after it met for the day.

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“Have some shame, there is a limit to shamelessness,” said Azad as he castigated the government on the troubles being faced by the people in demonetisation exercise.

BJP members shouted slogans seeking resumption of discussion on the issue as Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad got up to speak.

Opposition benches did the same when Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought to reply to him.

As Azad indicated his desire to speak, members from the Treasury benches objected.

Azad said over 100 farmers, women, youth and elderly persons have lost their lives in last one month due to hardships caused from wrong policies of the government.

"We wanted this House to mourn their death but the government has refused an obituary reference," he said, adding that the Opposition was left with no option and 150 MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha belonging to 16 opposition parties observed 'Black Day' in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament House complex.

Amid slogan shouting, Azad said it was "shameful" act of the government that instead of mourning the death it is adding salt to the injury.

The Opposition on Thursday observed a "black day" by staging a protest near Mahatma Gandhi's statue inside the Parliament premises to mark one month of the demonetisation decision announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Slamming the Opposition, the BJP termed the "black day" being observed by them as "support to black money".

"Hopefully, Gandhijee will give them "sadbudhi"(good or better sense that is)," said BJP leaders.