Despite Oppn pressure, govt. ready to discuss demonetisation in Parliament

With the opposition all set to train guns on the BJP-led NDA regime in the Winter Session over the demonetisation move, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday said that this decision would not be withdrawn and added the ruling dispensation is ready to discuss the matter in Parliament.

Meghwal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given strict orders that this decision will not be withdrawn.

"We are ready to discuss the issue in Parliament. We are not going to withdraw this decision. ATMs are taking time to calibrate the new Rs. 2,000 note. People should circulate the money rather than stocking it," Meghwal told ANI.

"We are doing routine monitoring of the situation. People are standing in line but are happy with the decision," he added.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Modi told NDA allies that there was no need to be defensive on the government's decision as there is widespread support for it and people are ready to face hardships for larger gains.

He urged NDA allies to go to the public and explain the long-term benefits of demonetisation in curbing corruption and black money.

The Prime Minister also asked them not to buckle under the opposition's pressure.

The Prime Minister's assertion came as the opposition parties joined hands to corner the government over the move to demonetise high-value currency.

Later in the day, almost all opposition parties at the all-party meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said demonetisation had not been properly implemented, adding the move has led to chaos.

The Congress, Trinamool Congress, Left Parties, YSR Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) huddled to strike a common strategy for the Winter Session that starts on Wednesday and will continue till December 16.

However, they could not arrive at a consensus on West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's proposal to hand over a protest memorandum in this regard to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today will hear several petitions challenging the government's decision to scrap Rs.500 and Rs.1000 currency notes.