Opposition to raise note ban issue again

New Delhi: On the eve of the Budget session, Opposition parties on Monday signalled that demonetisation issue, which led to a virtual washout of the last session, would again heat up Parliament even as they vent their unhappiness over early presentation of Budget in the midst of poll season.

During an all-party meeting called by the government, Opposition parties led by Congress and CPM demanded discussion on demonetisation and said they will again raise the issue as it has severely impacted the public.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that he has asked the government to avoid announcing any sops or concessions in the Union budget that may skew the playing field in the upcoming Assembly elections in the BJP’s favour.

Mr Azad gave the example of UPA 2012’s decision to postpone the Budget due to Assembly elections. “The Government should not have advanced the Budget Session, especially when state Assembly elections are coming up,” he said.

He also said that government should call another all-party meeting before the next phase of the Budget session.

The government, however, asserted that the Budget will be presented as scheduled, rejecting the Opposition’s allegations that it will impact the upcoming Assembly elections.

Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said during the meeting the Prime Minister sought the support of all parties and said, “In election time, there can be some differences among us, but Parliament is Mahapanchayat. It should function.”

In the meeting, the Congress and CPM demanded that there be a discussion on demonetisation in the current session.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that there should be discussion on demonetisation for two days “as it has severely impacted people across India… they have suffered due to this irrational move.”