Parliament Logjam on Note Ban: Why a Breakthrough Never Happened

New Delhi: The impasse in Parliament over demonetisation would have ended this week paving the way for debate and discussion in both Houses, but for a last minute glitch. The back-channel talks between the Opposition and the government had produced results with the Opposition scaling down its demand of discussion under a rule which entailed voting.

The Congress in particular was eager to end the stalemate with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi preparing to speak in the Lok Sabha to lead the Congress's charge. But the way proceedings in the Rajya Sabha unfolded last week forced the treasury benches to make last-minute changes in strategy.

After a day and a half of debate in the Upper House, the government had conceded the floor to former prime minister Manmohan Singh to speak on the issue. That turned out be a strategic mistake which government sources admit was used by Singh to launch one of the most scathing attacks on the midnight demonetisation. Both Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were present in the House as Singh tore into demonetisation scheme calling it a "monumental" mistake which could ensue a GDP loss of 2 percentage points in the days ahead.

The government floor managers in the Lok Sabha anticipated a redux of what the government faced in Rajya Sahba if the Congress vice-president was conceded space to make his point on record. That Opposition may provide little opportunity to the government to present its defence after Opposition leaders had spoken on the floor of the House was a possibility which rankled many in the government.

In retrospect, it appears both sides waited for a month for the demonetisation dust to settle down — each expecting it would settle in their favour.

Now only three working days are left in the Winter Session; a session which, among other legislative business, was slated to pass a bill to provide succour to the disabled. It was supposed to give final shape to the GST Bill after the passage of the enabling statute in the Monsoon Session; a session where the Opposition was to seek answers from the government on the other surgical strike, the one across the border.