RS washed out as Oppon protests over currency

Rajya Sabha proceedings were washed out on Tuesday when the Opposition created an uproar alleging that different kinds of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes were being printed, calling it the “biggest scam of the century”.

Hitting back at the Opposition, the government accused the Congress and the Trinamool Congress of raising “frivolous” issues and creating confusion in the country.

The Upper House saw continuous slogan-shouting by members of the Congress and Trinamool Congress, because of which it was adjourned six times before the final adjournment for the day, which took place at 2.30pm.

Soon after the House met for the day at 11 pm, Kapil Sibal of the Congress raised the issue saying different sizes of the new high denomination currency was being printed -- “one for the ruling party (members) and one for others”.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “this is the biggest scam of this century”. However, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi strongly countered the contention of the Congress leaders.