Demonetisation: Opposition to continue protest in Parliament till PM gives reply

India’s Opposition parties observing the “Jan Aakrosh Diwas” (People’s Day of Anger) today held a strategy meet Monday and decided to continue their agitation in Parliament till Prime minister Modi gives them a reply on the demonetisation issue. 

The lower house (Lok Sabha) was adjourned for the day in the afternoon after the opposition insisted on a debate on demonetisation under an adjournment motion rule that entails voting. 

A meeting of all the Opposition parties, except the Janta Dal (United), was held in Parliament in the chamber of the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), Ghulam Nabi Azad.

It was decided there that their protests will continue till the demands of the Opposition are met, PTI reported. 

But there are also fissures within the Opposition parties.

The Janta Dal (United), which has come out in suppport of demonetisation, skipped the meeting. 

There has also been a divide over the means of protesting demonetisation ever since West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee decided to march to the President against it, PTI reported.

While she was joined by the Aam Aadmi Party, the National Conference and other opposition parties stayed away.

The Shiv Sena, which is an ally, has backed demonetisation but said it is unhappy by how it is causing problems for the people. 

(WION with inputs from PTI)