 "Opposition plans contempt motion against PM for skipping Parliament")
The Opposition, which has not allowed the parliament to function for the past four days over the note ban issue, said it was planning to bring a contempt of parliament motion against PM Modi as he has not attended the house so far.
The deadlock in parliament is basically over two demands that the PM should listen to the concerns of the opposition in the house and the government should debate the note ban issue under a rule which entails voting.
"We are exploring a contempt motion against the PM," said CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury after 13 opposition parties held a strategy session on how to corner the government.
The opposition parties will stage a joint protest on Wednesday in the parliament complex and later discuss how they can push a contempt notice against the PM in both the houses.
Sources, however, said there is no provision in the parliamentary rules to allow such a notice but only a privilege motion against the PM can be brought and that too only in the Lok Sabha, where the PM is a member.
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.
"The PM himself made the announcement. Hence he should come and explain the move which has caused immense hardships to the people and has affected trade," said Yechury.
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The CPI-M leader pointed out that any policy decision taken shortly before a parliament session has to be explained to the houses by the government.
Countering the government that the opposition was running away from the debate, the Left leader said they had debated the issue on day one of parliament session on November 16 in the Rajya Sabha.
"The PM must come to the house," he said.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi too targeted the PM.
"He has time to speak on television, address a pop show but not talk in parliament?" Rahul said.
"He should come and listen to the pain people have faced because of his decision," BSP chief Mayawati said.
The oppositions refrain is that the poorly planned note ban order was being dealt by the government in an adhoc manner and as many as 70 people had died as a fallout.
Meanwhile, while the AIADMK joined the Opposition camp over the issue inside the parliament, TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would stage a solo protest in Delhi on Wednesday.
"I will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar at 1230 hrs and I appeal to other (opposition) parties to register their protests on the roads on demonetisation which has caused hardship to the common people," Mamata said.
"If any party wants to come, they are welcome. In Parliament, we are all working together," she said.