The Winter Session of Parliament beginning on Wednesday is all set to witness major ruckus over the Centre’s move to demonetise Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes. Opposition parties have called for an extensive debate and discussion even as the Trinamool Congress gave an adjournment notice in both Houses of Parliament ahead of the customary all-party meeting convened by lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday.
The TMC is the first party to give a notice in both Houses for adjournment motion on the issue of “inconvenience to common people” following Government’s abrupt move. The Government is expected to use the occasion to highlight the steps it has taken to eradicate the menace of black money and expose those opposing the demonetisation.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has demanded withdrawal of the “draconian decision”. With BSP supremo Mayawati and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also criticising the Government decision, it is possible that the parties will align with the TMC in taking on the Government if the adjournment motion is allowed.
Stung by the demonetisation decision, Mamata went to the extent of dialing CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury urging him to wage a “united fight” against the BJP and its “anti-people policies”. A senior CPI(M) leader, however, gave her a rebuff, describing the call as a “desperate call” to save her own party leaders, who were allegedly involved in corruption.
“Yes, today Mamata Banerjee called Sitaram Yechury and told him that all the Opposition parties should come together to put up a united fight against the BJP. Yechury replied that since he was travelling, he could only comment on the matter after discussing it in the party,” CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim told PTI.
“This is a desperate call and an attempt to save her own party leaders who are allegedly involved in the Saradha and Narada scams. What is the credibility of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)IJ How can they talk about fighting against black money when her (Mamata’s) own party leaders are involved in the Saradha scam and have been arrested,” Salim said.
While the Congress alleged that the Modi Government had sounded off those close to them about the demonetisation move, its vice-president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi getting emotional over inconvenience caused to the common man due to demonetisation step. Rahul said the PM was now facing concrete reality.
The all-party meeting will be held to deliberate on the agenda for the Winter Session of Parliament which is expected to be stormy in view of the Opposition’s concerns over a range of issues, including sudden demonetisation of currency and alleged politicisation of the Army’s surgical strikes across the line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
During the Session, the Opposition is also likely to target the Government over the “One Rank, One Pension” issue, and remarks by BJP leaders on surgical strikes. In a series of tweets, the Congress vice-president said, “First laughter, now tears! Mediocrity comes face to face with reality.”
“If trucks go off the roads, supply of essentials across the country will be paralysed. Hope Mr Modi has a plan for this,” he said in another tweet while pointing at the liquidity crunch. Rahul had earlier tweeted about a smiling Modi during the latter’s visit to Japan recently. “Modi laughs as poor cry,” the Gandhi scion had tweeted.
Deputy leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma hit out at the PM and said Modi has created propaganda and scripted India’s financial chaos and anarchy. “PM is indulging in theatrics and drama. He is misleading people. His party and its leaders have thrived on black money. They are holders of illegal property and gold,” Sharma stated. The former Union minister also attacked the PM for calling majority of the country corrupt.
The CPI(M) has said it would stage protests across Tamil Nadu on November 16 to urge the Centre to allow usage of the scrapped 500 and 1000 rupee notes until alternative arrangements were made for smooth availability of currency.