Narendra Modi government willing to debate on black money issue

NEW DELHI: After a united opposition mounted pressure in both Houses to have a discussion on black money, the Narendra Modi government has asked its senior leaders to be prepared to hold fort inside and outside Parliament on the progress made since the NDA came to power in May.

Congress and TMC had given notice on Tuesday for adjournment of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha and discussion on the black money issue. When Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not agree to their demand, Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party and Aam Admi Party members trooped into the well of the House to press for a discussion. Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met again after lunch. Congress and TMC then staged a walkout in protest.

“100 days are over, where is the black money,” TMC and Congress members shouted. Leader of the Congress in the LS Mallikarjun Kharge charged the government with failing to keep the promise of bringing back black money within 100 days of assuming power. “They defamed the UPA government on this issue. They should apologise for it,” he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu shot back, saying the NDA government has nothing to hide and black money went out of the country during UPA rule.