Demonetisation a harder option, will leave footprints: Jaitley

The finance minister blamed the Opposition for stalling Parliament over demonetisation

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that demonetisation was a harder option which would leave footprints behind as far as the future is concerned.

"PM had an option of doing what many others have done. There was an easier option but he chose the harder one," the minister said, adding that that harder option will certainly leave footprints behind as far as the future is concerned.

While addressing the Petrotech 2016, he took a dig at the Congress and backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the latter could face consequences of demonetisation move.

"So called seven decade normal had to be disrupted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the broad shoulders to face the consequences of the decision," Jaitley said.

"Decision of this kind has pain in transition, which is regrettable but had been factored in," he added.

Earlier in the day, Jaitley blamed the Congress and the Opposition for stalling Parliament over demonetisation and said the debate had begun and was happening in the House, but it was the Opposition who has interrupted it.

"We were ready for debate and still are. The Opposition wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the House so the prime minister has been regularly present," Jaitley had said in the Upper House.

Since the beginning of Winter Session of Parliament, Opposition has been demanding a debate on demonetisation along with Prime Minister Modi's participation in it.