Opposition to observe 'Aakrosh Divas' on Nov 28 to intensify movement against demonetisation

The opposition parties say they will now take their protest countrywide on November 28, Monday to observe 'Aakrosh Divas' to give separate calls for demonstrations and marches.

"We will march separately and strike together," said the Left's Sitaram Yechury, who held a press conference.

The issue continued to rock Parliament stalling proceedings for the fifth consecutive day since the beginning of the Winter session as led by the Congress, the entire opposition kept demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence to reply the debate on the people's hardship following scrapping of the old high-denomination notes.

The ruckus forced repeated adjournments of the Upper House and disrupted proceedings in the Lok Sabha, where the Prime Minister was present. The deadlock continued as the Government refused to agree to a discussion that ends in a vote.

In the morning, Opposition party MPs gathered at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue outside Parliament and marched together forming a human chain.

Calling demonetisation the country’s biggest impromptu financial experiment, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said his party wants the debate to be conducted under adjournment motion that requires suspension of House business.

“Congress party wants the debate under adjournment motion, question is are we being allowed to speak?” he said.

He claimed that the party MPs were not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha.

Blaming the Opposition for blocking normal proceedings, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said,  “Opposition is not allowing discussion in the house by creating uproar. On the contrary, they are putting blame on Government."

He said demonetisation had made the people to see Modi as their "messaiah", which the Opposition fails to notice.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, BSP supremo Mayawati urged President Pranab Mukherjee to summon PM Modi and ask him to resolve the problems faced by public. “I urge President to summon PM and ask him to take measures to solve the problems faced by people post demonetisation move,” she said.

Addressing a rally at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the country's economy was growing at a steady rate before demonetisation, but now there were many who did not have money to buy food. "People in power close their eyes and ears. There is so much arrogance in this government."