Responding to the opposition in the Rajya Sabha demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in Parliament to listen to their views on demonetisation, Union Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha will decide under what rule such a discussion or debate can and will take place.
Meghwal said that the despite the heavy criticism from the opposition, the ruling party stands firmly by its demonetisation drive and added that further improvements will be made in this regard but there is no question of rolling it back.
"When the all party meeting was held before the house started they said they wanted to discuss on demonetisation and on that basis the house started. The government ready for any kind of discussion. People have accepted demonetisation so they feel that they are coming in the back-foot. Further improvements in this regard will be made but there is no question of rolling it back," he said
"In Rajya Sabha they are demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence and in Lok Sabha they are saying that under rule 56 the discussion must take place. We said in the Lok Sabha that we are ready for any kind of discussion so that people come to know the benefits of demonetistion. It is going to benefit the lower class people," he added.
The Lok Sabha today witnessed tumultuous scenes as the united opposition stuck to its demand to discuss the demonetisation issue under rules entailing voting.
As soon as the House assembled, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that the Question Hour should be suspended to start the discussion. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, did not allow the suspension.
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Opposition members belonging to Congress, TMC, NCP and SP trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans. Amid the din, Speaker adjourned the House till noon.
Scenes were no different in Rajya Sabha as the House today witnessed noisy scenes with the Opposition demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the House and payment of compensation to those who died of trauma, while queuing up before banks and ATMs following demonetisation of high value currency notes.
The House was adjourned twice till Noon as Opposition repeatedly trooped into the well. As the House met for the day, Sharad Yadav of JD(U) said the government should pay a compensation of 10 lakh rupees to each of the kin of the deceased in the demonetisation process.
Mayawati of BSP demanded that Prime Minister should attend the House to listen to the discussion on the issue.
Asserting that 90 per cent of the people of the country are suffering due to it, she said the present situation looked like financial emergency and further demanded that payment of compensation to the deceased.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, the opposition is ready for discussion provided that Prime Minister should be present in the House.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emotional address to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers here today over demonetisation, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today questioned the former asking him what objection did he have in coming to the Parliament and facing the Opposition.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi asserted that the demonetization of high value currency is just a beginning of his government's deep and continuous struggle against black money.
Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, the Prime Minister said that the decision is in the interest of poor and middle class, adding that his government is dedicated to eradicate the evils of black money and corruption which have affected people in the last 70 years.