Govt. to hold parleys with oppn to break deadlock over demonetization

The BJP-led NDA Government, which is facing flak post the demonetisation drive, will be holding parleys with the opposition parties on Thursday as efforts to break the ongoing deadlock in Parliament.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar will be holding discussion with the opposition leaders at around 10 a.m. tomorrow to ensure that the remaining Winter Session of Parliament functions without any further disruption.

Rejecting the demand of opposition parties to roll back the decision on demonetisation, Naidu earlier in the day said the nation has supported the government's step to unearth black money and added that the decision has been taken keeping in view of the welfare of farmers and marginalised section of the society.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a bold decision to curb black money by invalidating the currency notes of 500 and 1000 denominations.

Emphasizing that this decision will promote cashless transaction in the society, Naidu further said that this move has severely damaged the cause of terrorists and separatists.

Naidu's assertions came as the opposition parties questioned Prime Minister Modi's absence in Parliament and alleged that this reflected the latter's "authoritarian" attitude.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said that Prime Minister Modi must come to Parliament and address the members over the government's decision to demonetise high value currency notes.

Asserting that economy has been affected by the step, Gandhi demanded the setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the alleged selective leakage of the decision.

He said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the Chief Economic Advisor were not even consulted by Prime Minister Modi before considering the decision.

The Parliament was today adjourned for the day following uproar over demonetisation issue. When the House reassembled at noon after first adjournment, the opposition members including Congress, TMC, Left and RJD demanded discussion on the issue under relevant rule which entails voting.

A united opposition today staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Parliament against the demonetisation of high value currency notes.

The major parties, which participated in the protest, are Congress, BSP, JD(U), TMC, AIADMK, NCP, Left, RJD and the Samajwadi Party. The MPs raised slogans and displayed posters against demonetisation.