Narendra Modi first Prime Minister to run away from Parliament: Congress

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statement that he was not allowed to speak in the Parliament, Congress today alleged that he was running away from the House and sought an apology for the same.

Coming down heavily on Modi over demonetisation, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the move has adversely affected labourers, farmers and hard-working citizens of the country.

"It is hard to understand how one can stop Modi from speaking in the Parliament, when his party BJP has 282 MPs, his government has more than 300 MPs, and even the Speaker is from his own party," Surjewala told reporters after attending a farmers' rally here.

"It is for the first time that India has got a Prime Minister who is running away from the Parliament," Surjewala said, adding, "He is now insulting Parliament, country's biggest temple and should apologise to the nation for this."

Surjewala said that the central government not only failed to fulfill promises given to farmers to ensure 50 per cent profit on their produce, but has crippled them by not allowing country's 370 district central co-operative banks and 93,000 primary agricultural credit societies to provide them with crucial funding.

He also alleged that Modi provided information about demonetisation beforehand to his party people, which is what explains a sudden jump in bank deposits of Rs 5 lakh crore a month or so before demonetisation announcement.

Speaking at an event at Deesa in Banaskantha yesterday, PM Modi had blamed Opposition parties for not letting him speak in the Parliament, despite assurance by his government that he is ready to speak on the issue of demonetisation and its effects.