New Delhi: On the eve of Parliament’s Winter Session that begins on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the Opposition’s cooperation for the smooth functioning of both Houses and urged them to “send out a positive message about politicians”. The Opposition parties, however, were unrelenting in their criticism of the recent demonetisation move by the government, calling it a “currency scam” that should be probed.
Despite this, and cash-strapped people’s continuing struggle for basic necessities as they wait in long queues seven days after Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were banned overnight, the ruling BJP said the demonetisation decision was getting the people’s support and had taken “the shape of a people’s movement”.
Most Opposition parties have joined ranks in criticising the demonetisation, saying it has only led to hardship for the common man.
As the government braced itself for a stormy session, key NDA partner Shiv Sena, which had on Monday endorsed the Narendra Modi government’s demonetisation move, gave indications that it could join Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee’s proposed “anti-demonetisation” march to Rashtrapati Bhavan Wednesday. The Sena parliamentary party office asked its MPs to assemble near Rashtrapati Bhavan by 1.30 pm.
Cash crisis
Some Sena MPs have decided to skip the session’s first day amid confusion on whether the “Sena is with the government over demonetisation or against”. In Mumbai, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray tried to clarify his party is “not against Modi, but now it is a matter of life and death for the people of the country”. Ms Banerjee also called Mr Thackeray to discuss the issue.
At the all-party meeting convened by the government on Tuesday, Mr Modi asserted the demonetisation decision was a “crusade” against corruption and black money, but an unrelenting Opposition called it a “ill-prepared and hasty” decision, that has caused “economic chaos”.
However, Mr Modi asserted the government was willing to discuss all issues and answer the questions raised by the Opposition, and hoped the session would be fruitful. Other than demonetisation, the Opposition parties will also try to corner the government over issues like the surgical strikes across the LoC, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, OROP and the plight of farmers.
“Parliament is the right forum to send out a positive message about politicians by addressing the issues appropriately. Politicians are accused of several things and it is time we could send out a positive message to the people,” the PM said at the meeting.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the demonetisation decision was leaked in advance to some people, including BJP leaders, and called it probably the “biggest scam”. He, however, added that his party was not for its rollback.
Asking floor leaders of various parties at the meeting, the PM said demonetisation and other important issues should be “discussed in detail”.
Making a last-ditch effort to pacify the Opposition, Mr Modi gave credit to all parties for the legislation on rollout of the Good and Services Tax (GST) and noted that it had happened as all parties worked together. He also said he had witnessed several “positive suggestions” from both the Opposition and ruling benches during the discussion on various issues in Parliament and “this needs to be continued”. Key bills are pending in the Rajya Sabha, in which the government is in a minority and had witnessed the Opposition parties joining hands over several issues.
The PM also spoke in support of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections and backed state funding of elections, urging the political parties to debate the issue.
As the Opposition parties joined forces to corner the government, the BJP said rival parties had “ganged up” against Mr Modi, who was working to curb black money and corruption. BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma claimed the public was supporting the move and that it had taken the shape of a “people’s movement”.
Information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the allegations that the demonetisation decision was leaked was “totally absurd and mischievous”. He said: “As the line of demarcation between honest and dishonest is being clearly drawn in the country, some Opposition parties are getting rattled and making absurd allegations.”
Responding to observations on the withdrawal of high-value notes, finance minister Arun Jaitley asserted that the government was fully prepared before announcing the decision despite the strict secrecy to be maintained. He said the demonetisation decision was only a part of the larger strategy to tackle corruption and unaccounted money.
