Demonetisation impact: Opposition gears up to disrupt House

Opposition leaders said they would forcefully raise the issue of demonetisation in parliament

Keeping their differences aside, Opposition parties met on Monday to find ways to corner the government over demonetisation in the winter session of Parliament. Anchored by the Congress, the meeting of eight Opposition parties saw sworn enemies such as Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on the same page against the Centre’s decision, which they termed anti-people and responsible for unleashing economic anarchy. 

Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-United), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Sudip Bandopadhyay and Derek O'Brien (TMC), D Raja (Communist Party of India), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Sushil Kumar (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) and M Rajamohan Reddy (YSR Congress) met Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad to forge a unanimous view on the demonetisation move. 

 

However, the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Aam Aadmi Party – all of whom have attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government over demonetisation — did not attend the meeting. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Nationalist Congress Party, too, were not present. 

These Opposition parties will meet again on Tuesday to fine-tune their strategy. 

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said farmers were badly hit by the demonetisation. The Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, termed it an “unsystematic move”. The Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Delhi government has called an emergency Assembly session to discuss the issue on Tuesday. 

Notably, BJP ally Shiv Sena, too, targeted Prime  Minister Modi. An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna described the demonetisation as “demonic and unsystematic”, leading to “financial anarchy” in the country.  The Congress has already given a notice for adjournment of business in the upper House and would press for a debate on the demonetisation on Day 1 of the winter session, which starts  Wednesday. 

The Opposition had expressed similar views during an all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament. 

However, according to BJP leaders, people in general have supported the move and that their anger would subside once more currency notes are pushed into circulation in the days to come. 

Addressing a public rally in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi said his move made the rich lose sleep. He promised “an era of development” for the poor, but requested them to bear the inconvenience for 50 days. 

The BJP and the government expect the first couple of days of the winter session to be a washout. Sources said the three Goods and Services Tax (GST)-enabling Bills could be pushed through, as could the GST constitutional amendment Bill in the monsoon session, as ‘money Bills’ in the Lok Sabha. 

Meanwhile, BJP general-secretary (organisation) Ram Lal held meetings via video-conferencing on Sunday and on Monday to ask state unit leaders to galvanise party cadres to assist people. Addressing a public rally in Ghazipur, the PM yet again promised “better days” for the poor at the end of 50 days of inconvenience. 

BJP leaders claimed that small traders might have been inconvenienced but would continue to support the party. But, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an umbrella body of small traders, expressed concern at trade being impacted severely because of low volume of transportation of goods. It demanded special camps in markets to disburse currency. 

CAIT said trade has reduced by three-fourths to a mere 25 per cent of normal days. It said rural retailers, who visit nearby district markets for procuring goods, are left with no money. Wholesale vegetable markets have also been hit because of non-availability of smaller-denomination currency notes, CAIT said. It demanded that the government subsidise the transaction costs being charged by banks for card payments.