Naidu should request 'authoritarian PM to speak on demonetisation: Cong

The Congress Party on Wednesday hit back at Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu for his outburst against the opposition parties in the wake of repeated disruptions in Parliament and said that the latter should instead make efforts to ensure that an "authoritarian" Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the government's demonetisation decision.

Congress leader P.C. Chacko said it is quite strange that Prime Minister Modi has ample time to make speeches outside the House but does not find it apt to address the concerns of those in Parliament.

"Venkaiah Naidu ji do not worry about the opposition's argument. Whether they have an argument or not it is their headache. He should advice or request the Prime Minister to come and sit in Parliament and listen to the members speaking and then reply to that. This is minimum responsibility of the Prime Minister," he told ANI.

"When the Parliament is in session, he is making speeches outside the Parliament. He is not prepared to speak in the House. If Venkaiah ji has any respect to the democratic system instead of criticising the opposition, he better request the Prime Minister to come to Parliament and to listen to the speeches of the opposition members and make a reply in Parliament. I do not think anybody will give any credibility to his statement if he and his party cannot prevail on the Prime Minister to come to Parliament," he added.

Chacko stated that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been taking a stand from the very beginning consistently.

"Her party's view is that this is a wrong decision and perhaps she is taking the initiative in the sense that she may be feeling the heat because her own state is also financially suffering a lot. The finances in many states in India are bad. Their income is considerably falling. So, the state governments will find it extremely difficult when the economic activities in the country is coming to a halt the income of the state also will be affected. It would be difficult for the state governments also to face the emergency situation," he added.

Backing the Trinamool Congress supremo, the Congress leader said the opposition's demand over the Prime Minister's presence in the House was a right one.

"This Prime Minister refuses to come to Parliament. The opposition did not make any big demand. It was a good opportunity for the Prime Minister to come to Parliament and explain. But he refused to do that. So that is why she has said that he is an authoritarian. That probably is the befitting criticism," Chacko said.

Naidu earlier today accused the opposition parties of creating contempt of Parliament by not allowing the debate on demonetisation and said that Prime Minister Modi has taken this radical, bold and revolutionary step of fighting against corruption and black money in the interest of the nation.

Naidu, however, admitted that there are some problems, which are being attended and addressed.

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.