Congress issues whip to its MPs, Oppn to meet on Wednesday

Congress has issued a whip to its MPs to be present in both Houses

New Delhi, Dec 13: Opposition parties will meet on Wednesday to decide their strategy in Parliament as the government has expressed readiness for a debate on demonetisation and the Congress has issued a whip to its MPs to be present in both Houses.

Ahead of an impending stormy session, Congress today also issued a three line whip to its MPs in both Houses of Parliament asking them to be present.

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia sought to put the ball in the government's court saying that the opposition was ready for discussion last week itself when members of the ruling party disrupted proceedings.

He said opposition parties would be meeting tomorrow morning to chalk out its future strategy.

"We were ready for discussion last week, but treasury benches disrupted the House and forced its adjournment. The opposition parties will meet tomorrow morning to decide future strategy," Scindia said.

Sources said government has not approached the opposition so far during the four-day long weekend break, but has expressed readiness on the debate on demonetisation.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said government is ready for a debate on the demonetisation issue in Parliament and urged the Congress and other opposition parties to "rise above slogans and look at the positive advantages ..." .

"Therefore, from national perspective, I would appeal to the opposition to join this campaign rather than create obstruction and fail to understand what the real purpose and the import of this campaign really is," he said.

I&B Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Prime Minister will be present in Parliament for the remaining three days of the winter session and accused the Opposition of "changing goalpost" to disrupt functioning of both the Houses.

"The Prime Minister, except when he was out, is in Parliament every day. He is the first man to come to the Parliament and the last man to go. He is sitting in his room and watching all that is happening. As and when there is a request, he comes to the House," Naidu said.

When asked specifically if the Prime Minister will be present in Parliament for the next three days, Naidu said," He will be."

An end to the ongoing impasse in Parliament remains elusive as it meets tomorrow after a break of four days despite the government again urging the Opposition to start a debate on demonetisation, insisting that it is ready for a discussion.

Both, the government as well as the Opposition, especially Congress and TMC, have stuck to their guns on the terms of a debate with BJP's rivals demanding discussion under a rule that entails voting and treasury benches ruling it out.

PTI