Winter session of Parliament

Rajya Sabha adjourned till Friday amid uproar over Ghulam Nabi Azad's comments.

Pakistan terrorists did not kill even half of our people in Uri than those who have died due to government's demonetisation: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings.

Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday said, "Yesterday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned. The issue of demonetisation was raised in the Rajya Sabha, and during that time, some parties demanded a probe by the JPC. And now, the government is asking for proof about the leak of information." "Someone said demonetisation was leaked and people deposited money before the announcement. Do they have any proof? And if they have then ask them to please give one. This information was not leaked and all these allegations are baseless," he told ANI.

BSP chief Mayawati criticised the Centre's apathy towards people's hardships and said the Opposition would not let the demonetisation debate in parliament continue unless Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the house. "All Opposition parties have decided not to go ahead with the debate over the demonetisation unless Modiji comes to the house," Mayawati told reporters in the Parliament premises. Attacking the Prime Minister, Mayawati said: "If he is serious about the people, then he must come and speak." "The stand which my party (Bahujan Samaj Party) took yesterday (Wednesday) was supported by all the opposition parties in the house. We had demanded the presence of Modiji," the BSP leader added.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3pm after uproar over demonetisation issue.

Uproar in Rajya Sabha, opposition demands that PM be present for discussion on demonetisation.

We want that debate should take as common man is suffering; Speaker hasn't accepted our motion of condemnation: Kamal Nath #DeMonetisation pic.twitter.com/Vy9bqHWRTz

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 17, 2016

Uproar in both the houses after Opposition stage protest over #demonetisation issue pic.twitter.com/jq4QHwUcrk

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 17, 2016

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for a second time on Thursday till 12.00 p.m. following uproar over the government's demonetisation move. The second adjournment came when many DMK and Congress members gathered near the Chairman's podium and raised slogans against the government. The MPs demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the house. On November 8, the government announced the spiking of Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes to battle black money and corruption.

Delhi: TMC leaders protest at the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises over #demonetisation issue pic.twitter.com/oL5aTeAf7X

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 17, 2016

Will try to raise this issue (China denying visa to Indian badminton team's manager Bamang Tago) during zero-hour: Ninong Ering, Congress MP pic.twitter.com/JVgAZBzRoI

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 17, 2016

House is there; let's discuss; they can raise whatever demand; Govt will respond accordingly: Venkaiah Naidu on Cong's demand for JPC probe pic.twitter.com/zCcE33WnNM

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 17, 2016

There is a possibility that Cong Vice President Rahul Gandhi will speak in the LS today on #demonetisation issue : Mallikarjun Kharge, Cong pic.twitter.com/ngZtZG5OGY

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 17, 2016

The debate on demonetisation, which was kicked off on the first day of the Winter Session in the Rajya Sabha yesterday after suspending all business in response to notices given by a host of opposition members, will continue on Thursday. During the course of a seven-hour debate, the opposition took on the government, saying the move demonetisation of high currency notes is "ill-conceived", and it had led to an economic anarchy in the country. The government, however, rejected the allegation, saying the move is in the national interest, and has been hailed by the common man.

Eyebrows were raised in Congress after former Union finance minister P Chidambaram did not open the debate on demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha and the honour went to the deputy leader of the opposition, Anand Sharma.

The rise in the number of illegal Bangaldeshi immigrants, which almost equals the size of the entire population of Australia, shows a rise of around 67% over the 1.2 crore estimate given out by the UPA government in 2004 but withdrawn soon after.

Opening the opposition attack, Congress's Anand Sharma said housewives queueing up at banks and ATMs could not be seen as holders of black money and criticised the government for seeking to tar all critics of demonetisation as "anti-national". He claimed BJP had been reduced to parroting PM Modi's lines.

The government put a strong defence of its decision on demonetisation on Wednesday, claiming PM Narendra Modi has delivered on his mandate to curb corruption and that the courageous move is a befitting response to criticism that it works for big business.