Demonetisation wasn't initiated only by Narendra Modi, says new book

In his memoir, former president Pranab Mukherjee writes that the idea had been discussed in Parliament and raised mainly by non-Congress parties several times, particularly from the 1970s to the '90s

PM (Narendra) Modi had not discussed the issue of demonetization with me prior to his announcement on 8 November 2016. I learnt of it along with the rest of the country when he made it known through a televised address to the nation. There has been criticism that he should have taken lawmakers and the Opposition into confidence, before making the announcement. I am of the firm opinion that demonetization could not have been done with prior consultation because the suddenness and surprise, absolutely necessary for such announcements, would have been lost after such a process. 

Therefore, I was not surprised