TMC's Saugata Roy questions govt: 'Demonetisation responsible for economic slowdown?'

Trinamool (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Monday lashed out at the BJP-led government over the alleged economic slowdown and questioned whether it is due to demonetisation.

"International Monetary Fund has said that India's growth rate is forecasted to be 6.1%. Our index of industrial production is at -1.1%. I want to ask the Minister whether the demonetisation move, taken in 2016, is responsible for the economic slowdown? What are they doing for the same? Nobody says anything why such situation is there," Roy said in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Winter Session.

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Irked by a clash between TMC and BJP MPs in the Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked the Parliamentarians to not turn the House into West Bengal Assembly. The verbal brawl between the MPs began while debating over the Chit Fund (Amendment) Bill.  "Don’t turn the Lok Sabha into the West Bengal Assembly," said Birla. Another BJP member Dilip Ghosh also made allegations against the ruling party in West Bengal but was asked by the Speaker to speak on the bill.

Besides this, Roy along with other Opposition leaders today sought the presence of National Conference (NC) member Farooq Abdullah as Speaker Om Birla informed them he has written information that he was in custody.  Raising the issue after question hour, DMK leader TR Baalu and Saugata Roy urged the Speaker to issue instructions to the government for Abdullah's presence in the House. 

During the Question Hour, TMC MP Pratima Mondal also spoke on the need for a new law to regulate the long working hours at private companies. She also placed a demand for a plastic waste recycling unit in her Lok Sabha constituency Joynagar.

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Adjournment Motion Notices

Kicking off the Winter session of the Lok Sabha, multiple Opposition parties on Monday, have given Adjournment Motion Notice for various reasons. While the TMC has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over the detention of National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah,  Congress party has given  Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over ‘Instability in J&K post abrogation of Article 370’.

Newly-joined Opposition party Shiv Sena has also given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over the loss of crops due to heavy rainfall in Maharashtra. Sources report that Sena supporters are also protesting outside the parliament over the farmer's distress while ruckus ensues in Lok Sabha.

(With ANI inputs)