The second week of the Budget Session started with the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, wherein all the opposition parties slammed the government’s decision of demonetisation which has resulted in job losses, economic slowdown, agricultural distress and overall misery for the people.Speaking on this in the Rajya Sabha, Sitaram Yechury said demonetisation is the biggest disruption that has happened to the country. It has disrupted the normal existence of a vast majority of the people and their day-to-day livelihood.

THE winter session of parliament began on November 16. The government’s recent decision to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from circulation rocked parliament for the first three days. On the first day, the Lok Sabha was adjourned after obituary reference as a sitting member died in the period between two sessions. In the Rajya Sabha, a motion was moved to suspend whole business of the day to take up discussion on the issue of demonetisation of high-value banknotes.

THE Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 18. In the Lok Sabha, newly elected member took oath on the first day and the House was adjourned for the day after obituary reference and observance of one minute’s silence on account of death of a sitting member. In the Rajya Sabha, after new members took oath, there was an obituary reference to the victims of natural calamities. There was also a short-duration discussion on the situation arising out of recent incidents of violence and turmoil in Kashmir Valley resulting in huge loss of lives and property.

IN the second week of this session, the Rajya Sabha witnessed a serious debate on the Augusta Westland chopper deal. Speaking on this, Tapan Kumar Sen said that a blame game is going in this matter. In many cases, nobody has yet been convicted. CBI is having the regulator in its hands and regulates the case as per the situation. It is very unfortunate in our society. Instead of making political postures, it should be taken to a logical end. The whole system is economically polluted and is in a state of crony capitalism. There is failure in maintaining the pace of the probe.

THERE was uproar in Rajya Sabha a day after a sting video purportedly showed 11 Trinamool Congress leaders accepting money from a fictitious firm. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury appealed to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to assure that the sting against the TMC leaders will be probed and a House committee will be set up to enquire into it. Lok Sabha witnessed a heated exchange of words between TMC members and other opposition MPs. Raising the matter, Md. Salim said the dignity of the House should be protected as some members were found to be indulging in unethical conduct.