Opposition interested in showing "political one-upmanship" instead of discussing demonetisation: BJP

Reprimanding the opposition for repeatedly stalling proceedings in Parliament over the demonetisation issue ever since the Winter Session started on November 16, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that the former is only interested in displaying political one-upmanship instead of holding a constructive discussion on the issue.

"We have repeatedly said that we are ready for any kind of discussion which is in national interest, but baselessly stalling parliament only to show political one-upmanship is not acceptable. Not just to us, but even to the people of this country," BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI.

The opposition on Monday, made it difficult for both Houses of Parliament to function as the protests against demonetisation were carried inside and outside the complex, even as the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi led their party workers.

In the Rajya Sabha, the opposition raised slogans and trooped into the Well of the House, forcing Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to adjourn proceedings.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said that this was the first time when a Prime Minister has taken such a "major decision and not addressed the House even once."

The Chair asked Leader of the House Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to respond to this, but Naqvi was not allowed by the opposition to speak.