Not disrupting Parliament, just demanding debate for people who are suffering: Congress

Rejecting the Centre's charges of holding the Parliament hostage, the Congress on Friday reiterated their demand of a debate on the issue of demonetisation and asserted that it was not disrupting the House proceeding, but simply wanted a healthy debate to discuss the grievances of the people suffering because of the currency swap.

Asserting that it is the duty of the ruling dispensation to run the house smoothly, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI that the Congress if trying its best to resolve the issue but it is the Centre which is not ready to cooperate.

"We are trying our best to resolve this matter. We even met the speaker several times and also discussed the matter with the Parliamentary Affair Minister," said Kharge.

"The government should take a call and decide as it s their responsibility run the house smoothly. We are ready to cooperate; our ply demand is that the discussion should take place. We are not disrupting, just demanding a debate for people who are suffering," he added.

Earlier, launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "unleashing financial anarchy on the country" and "inflicting sufferings on millions of people" by demonetising Rs. 500 and Rs.1000 currencies, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma, said the Prime Minister should come to parliament and accept his "blunder".

Criticising the government for handing out incentives to people using digital transactions, Sharma said it was a cruel joke as more than 73 crore people are unbanked.

Sharma further said the demonetisation has shutdown India's economy and made it cashless.

As Deadlock continued in Parliament over demonetisation issue, both the Houses were adjourned again yesterday. When the Rajya Sabha reassembled this afternoon, the Opposition demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the continuation of the demonetisation debate that was initiated on the first day of the Winter Session.