Jaitley refuses to respond to opposition queries over Rs 2,000 'notebandi'

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday refused to reply to opposition queries whether the government is going to demonetise Rs 2,000 notes or whether it is planning to issue coins of bigger denominations such as Rs 1,000.

The issue was raised by Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal during the Zero Hour as soon as the House met for the day.

"It's been a tradition that when Parliament is in session, the government has to inform the House of any policy decisions it makes. Now the government has decided to stop printing Rs 2,000 notes," Agrawal said.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also took up the issue, demanding to know if the government is coming out with high denomination coins.

"I would like to know from the Finance Minister who is here. We read in newspapers that the government is going to introduce Rs 1,000, Rs, 100, Rs 200 coins. What is the actual (position)? Are we to go by the media reports or the Minister would enlighten the House?" he said.

"We must know what is the truth behind these reports," he added.

Tiruchi Siva of DMK and Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal-United too demanded to know the government's position on the issue.

"Such reports will give birth to rumours. People may stop transacting in Rs 2,000 notes. The government must put these rumours to rest," Yadav said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurein, who was presiding over the House, asked Jaitley if he would like to respond to the queries, but he refused.

"The Finance Minister does not want to respond. What can I do?" Kurien said.

--IANS

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