Rahul Gandhi calls demonetisation a scam, wants JPC to probe

At this point, opposition Congress, BSP and TMC members rushed into the well shouting slogans. Thirteen opposition parties, baring the Left and the Aam Aadmi Party, protested at Parliament’s Gandhi Statue demanding answers on demonetisation.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had called a meeting with leaders of the Opposition today but they skipped it, deciding to meet on their own. The Shiv Sena in fact, joined the Trinamool Congress march to the President Pranab Mukherjee last week, along with the National Conference but has subsequently turned around to support the government.

Kumar and some other leaders in the government will continue deliberations with floor leaders of various political parties on Thursday.

# “I do not disagree with these objectives, but there is monumental mismanagement of which there are no two opinions in the country as a whole”, said Dr Singh, whose government was decisively defeated by PM Modi two years ago. All political parties, including the AIADMK and regional rivals in Uttar Pradesh as well, have chose to join in a nationwide protest on November 28 against the move.

Rahul said all Opposition parties, including the Congress, were fighting corruption and black money. He said over 200MPs are saying they want to tell the nation why he took the decision, but PM himself “a representative of the country” is hiding from us just because of our questions. So there should be a JPC probe.

Opposition will strike at Centre in a united fashion inside and outside Parliament.

According to Yechury, the prime minister has been speaking about the note ban issue outside in public rallies and even found time to address a rock concert but was not available in either of the houses to listen to what the lawmakers were saying on the issue. “They do not want a discussion here”, he said. “Prime Minister must apologise”, he said as Congress and other opposition members trooped into the Well of the House, raising slogans like “Pradhan Mantri maafi mango (Prime Minister apologise)”.

“Prime Minister says opposition is favouring blackmoney”. The chief economic adviser was not in the know. This isn’t the Finance Minister’s decision, it’s PM’s. This is the Prime Minister’s decision and, because of this decision, crores of people have suffered major losses.

# If the Prime Minister has attended the House only for the question hour then the proceedings won’t go on. “There should be some reason why he is afraid”, he added. “He is obviously anxious about something”, Rahul said. BJP President Amit Shah on his part targeted opposition parties, saying that the exercise is aimed against corruption and those who have black money are anxious. Entire country has seen that scandal-ridden government during whose rule all the black money was generated.

“It is a question of complete centralisation of power”. A country can not be run in this manner. You have hit the economy, which was running fine.

The Supreme Court earlier this week had warned “there could be riots” as it told the government to urgently find ways to alleviate the hardship caused to people. Thirteen days have passed, but people are still standing in queues outside banks and ATMs have no money. Among those pressing for the condolence resolution were Congress, BSP, TMC and CPI (M).

The Opposition has been stalling the Rajya Sabha in protest against Modi’s absence in the House during the debate and maintains that since he made the announcement on November 8, he should speak in the House on the issue.