TMC, SP protest in Parliament complex over black money, reconversion

NEW DELHI: Slamming the government for calling opposition parties "obstructionists", the TMC and the Samajwadi Party today staged protests in the Parliament House complex over black money and reconversion issues.

The first protest by TMC MPs, with whom the government has had an uneasy relationship over the Saradha scam, was staged in front of the Gandhi statue.

Responding to Union Minister Arun Jaitley's criticism that opposition was not allowing the 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 black money 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 MPs also protested against the government raising slogans "kala dhan wapas lao" (bring back the black money), "Gandhi hum sharminda hain, tere katil zinda hain" (Gandhi, we are ashamed as your killers are still alive), "vadakhilafi band karo" (dont go back on your promises).

"The government has failed on every front and has gone back on their promises. Where is the black money which was promised by the BJP during the election? He had said black money 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.