A united opposition on Wednesday upped the ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued silence and absence inside the house despite growing demands for him to speak on the demonetisation issue.
“We feel that this decision is a scam. The Prime Minister had informed his close friends about this before the announcement. We want a JPC probe in this,” Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said.
Insisting on opposition unity moments after 12 parties joined hands to lead a protest against the move in Parliament House, the Amethi MP said all leaders also wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to Parliament, listen to them and tell the nation why he took a decision that “hit the people and economy”.
Demanidng Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply in Parliament on demonetisation, Gandhi said, “What the Prime Minister has done is world’s biggest impromptu financial experiment. He didn’t discuss it with anyone. This isn’t the Finance Minister’s decision, it’s PM’s. He must come to Parliament and sit through entire debate on demonetisation.”
Sections of the Opposition have demanded a rollback, saying it has destabilised the rural economy, while all of them want PM Modi to reply on the floor of the House — demands the government has rejected.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day within two hours of convening as Opposition lawmakers demanded PM Narendra Modi, who was present in the House, to make a statement. Rajya Sabha, too, witnessed chaotic scenes.
“Seventy people have lost their lives. Is this a small matter,” Jyotiraditya Scindia of the Congress said.
CPI leader D. Raja told the media that “approaching the President is the final option” if Modi did not respond to questions from the opposition.
