PM to address nation on New Year's Eve

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the nation on New Year's Eve, informed sources said on Thursday.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the nation before the dawn of the New Year. The address is likely at 7.30 p.m. on December 31," the sources said.

Modi last addressed the nation on November 8, when he announced demonetisation of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

The Prime Minister may speak on demonetisation in his December 31 address, as the 50-day period sought by him to ease out cash crunch situation across the country gets over on December 30.

After demonetisation, Modi had said: "... help me for 50 days and I will give you the India you desired".

Opposition parties have attacked the government over the implementation of the demonetisation decision, with a few choosing to oppose it altogether.

The winter session of Parliament from November 16 to December 16 was almost a washout over the issue, as the opposition demanded a debate along with voting in the Lok Sabha and the Prime Minister's presence in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion.

The demonetisation debate was taken up in the upper house, but could not be concluded, while in the Lok Sabha, only A.P. Jithender Reddy laid a statement on the table of the house on the debate initiated under Rule 193, which is for a short duration discussion.

Reddy was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha amid a ruckus by other opposition parties, prominently the Trinamool Congress and the Congress.

While the Prime Minister did not speak in Parliament, he addressed more than a dozen rallies where he spoke on the benefits of demonetisation, promising to rid the country of black money.

Meanwhile, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who too said he was not allowed to speak in Parliament, also took to public rallies to oppose the government on demonetisation.

In his national radio address 'Mann ki Baat' on December 25, the Prime Minister spoke extensively on demonetisation and encouraged "cashless transactions".

--IANS

ao/tsb/vt