Oppn parties have nothing concrete against demonetisation: Govt.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday accused the opposition parties of creating unwarranted ruckus in Parliament and alleged that those opposing the demonetisation drive don't have anything concrete against the move.

Prasad said that people, who are avoiding the debate on demonetisation, are those running away from truth.

"We expect the opposition to participate in the debate. But I would like to ask that we did have a debate on the 16th, it went on for the whole day. But it was stalled why? After that all started speaking, Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke, Anand Sharma spoke, Mayawati spoke, Sitaram Yechury spoke but the next day the debate did not take place," said Prasad.

"They started asking for the Prime Minister, they began demanding for a JPC. I would like to assert that they don't have any statement to make, they don't have answers and that is why they are running away from a debate," he added.

The Union Minister further said avoiding debate means avoiding the truth.

"I would like to appeal to the opposition to debate on any topic in Parliament. We are ready to answer all questions. We are ready to face criticism," he added.

The Lok Sabha earlier today witnessed tumultuous scenes as a united opposition stuck to its demand to discuss the demonetisation issue under rules entailing voting.

As soon as the House assembled, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that the Question Hour should be suspended to start the discussion. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, did not allow the suspension.

Opposition members belonging to the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Samajwadi Party trooped into the well of the House raising slogans against the government. Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya with the opposition demanding the Prime Minister's presence in the House and payment of compensation to those who died of trauma while queuing up before banks and ATMs following demonetisation of high value currency notes.

The House was adjourned twice till noon as Opposition repeatedly trooped into the well.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi asserted that the demonetization of high value currency is just a beginning of his government's deep and continuous struggle against black money.

Addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting here, the Prime Minister said the decision is in the interest of poor and middle class, adding that his government is dedicated to eradicate the evils of black money and corruption which have affected people in the last 70 years.