Demonetisation row: PM misleading people, says Congress

Objecting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegation that the opposition is not letting him speak on demonetisation in parliament, the Congress said the former is misleading the nation.

"Prime Minister is misleading the people and making a statement which is not correct. He has to shed his arrogance and his stubborn attitude. He is also insensitive to the plight of the people," said Congress leader Anand Sharma.

Sharma said demonetisation was the prime minister's decision and he has to be answerable to the people on it.

"It is wrong that we are not allowing the PM to speak. In fact, we have been insisting on having a debate. We don't want the Prime Minister to come and give a speech and leave, we want him to answer our questions," he said.

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday said, "Government has always said we are ready to debate. I am not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha, so I am speaking in the Jan Sabha,"

He was speaking after inaugurating a dairy plant in Deesa, Gujarat.

The Prime Minister said he was sharing his thoughts with the opposition, not from the Lok Sabha, but from the land on which he is standing.

"From the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, I want to share something with my friends in the opposition," Modi said.

Categorically stating that government has always maintained its stand of having a discussion in parliament, he said, "Parliament is not being allowed to function."

Expressing his distress over President Pranab Mukherjee's statement regarding recent parliament disruptions, the Prime Minister said it compelled a politically experienced leader to intervene and remind the Members of Parliament (MPs) to "do their work."

"Happenings in parliament anguished our president, who has tremendous political experience," he said.

The winter session of parliament has only witnessed adjournments so far, with no substantial discussions taking place. With only three working days of parliament left, government has urged the opposition to let both the houses function by having proper debate.