Centre asks opposition to clear its stand on demonetization

Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday questioned the stand taken by the opposition parties on demonetisation as Parliament witnessed continuous logjam with the Centre being cornered over the step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We made it clear that the government is ready to discuss all the aspects. I am not able to understand the logic behind the Congress and other parties raising the issue," Naidu said.

"Are you against black money; are you ready to support government's stand on black money; where do you stand" he asked the opposition parties.

Asserting that the opposition is failing badly in their responsibility, the Union Minister further said Parliament is there to solve problem.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, however, expressed his gratitude to the opposition parties "for not questioning government's intention on demonetisation". He said, the government is ready to address the hardships of the people and the suggestions made by the members during the discussion will be acted upon.

Singh said the decision has been taken in the national interest to curb black money, terror funding and circulation of counterfeit currency. He also appealed to the opposition to leave the matter of rule, under which discussion should take place, at the discretion of the Chair.

When the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon after first adjournment, the Speaker disallowed all the adjournment motion notices brought by various opposition leaders on several issues including discussion on demonetisation. She asked the members to start discussion without insisting on any rule. She however said, as the discussion on the matter is listed under rule 193 with no provision of voting and the discussion can be taken up immediately.

Earlier, Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress alleged that manufacturing has come to a standstill and people have lost their jobs after scrapping of high value notes. He said, the matter is very important and it must be discussed under rule with voting. He said, a group of 17 opposition parties decided to move a resolution to discuss the matter under rule 184 which provides for voting.

The opposition members trooped into the well shouting slogans. The Speaker conducted the Zero Hour proceedings amid din and later adjourned the House for the day as opposition continued noisy protests on demonetisation.

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till 2 PM with the Opposition continuing their protest against demonetization. As soon as the House re-assembled at Noon after its first adjournment, Congress members raised slogans from their seats forcing Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House for the second time. He repeatedly urged the agitating members to allow the House to take up Question Hour. But they remained unrelented forcing the Chair to adjourn the House.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) today protested inside the Parliament premises against demonetisation. Displaying posters, the party MPs shouted slogans against the government.

Talking to reporters, TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay accused the government of not doing anything to ease the hardship faced by the people. He reiterated the Opposition demand for discussion on the issue in the Lok Sabha under the rule which entails voting.

Earlier, the Opposition leaders including Congress, TMC and the Left met at Parliament House and discussed their strategy to counter the government in both the Houses.