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A united Opposition is making preparations to corner the Centre in Parliament over the demonetisation of ₹1,000 and ₹500 notes. Opposition party leaders met here on Monday to formulate a joint strategy during the Winter session that begins on Wednesday.
Various opposition parties have moved adjournment motions in both the Houses of Parliament to suspend the business and discuss the demonetisation issue. The meeting has decided to wait for the Centre’s reply before taking up the matter to the President.
Motive behind decisionThe Opposition’s plan is to question the Centre’s motive behind the decision. Both the Congress and the Left have repeatedly pointed out that ₹6 six lakh crore had already been deposited in banks in September.
“This is unprecedented. How come such a huge amount of cash got deposited in banks just ahead of the decision on demonetisation of high value notes? The BJP has let its friends know that such a decision is being taken,” accused CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
“If the Centre is claiming that the amount is the Seventh Pay Commission arrears paid to Central government and PSU officials, the whole details of arrears paid must be made public,” he added.
The Congress and the Trinamool Congress had also alleged that the West Bengal unit of the BJP had deposited more than ₹1 crore in banks ahead of the demonetisation decision.
Another issue the Opposition is likely to flag is the alleged illegality of the decision.
“This is a clear violation of Section 34 of the RBI Act. The provision gives powers to the RBI to take decisions on monitory policy. The Prime Minister has no role in this. The legality of the decision is already under challenge in the courts. In 1978, the then government demonetised high denomination notes by bringing an ordinance,” said deputy leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma.
In the meeting held at the office of Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, leaders of TMC, RJD, JD(U), CPI, CPI(M), JMM and YSR Congress participated. The SP, BSP and the AAP have also voiced their protests against the decision. The Congress claims that more parties will oppose the government during the Winter session.
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