Opposition seeks meeting with President to raise demonetisation woes

Sources said time is being sought for tomorrow and all opposition parties were ready to raise the issue unitedly before President pranab Mukherjee.

By PTI

Updated: Thursday, December 15, 2016, 13:29 [IST]

New Delhi, Dec 15: Taking their protest on demonetisation to the President's doorsteps, Opposition parties today sought a meeting with Pranab Mukherjee to convey the problems caused by the measure to the common man and "over not being" allowed to speak in Parliament.

At a meeting of the opposition held in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, representatives of various parties decided to raise with the President the problems of the common people, including the poor and farmers arising out of demonetisation.

Leaders of various parties said the entire opposition has decided to approach the President to "complain" against the ruling party for not allowing them to speak in Parliament.

The leaders said they were elected representatives of the country and had every right to speak in Parliament and it was "unconstitutional" not to allow them to speak in both Houses.

Sources said time is being sought from the President for tomorrow and all opposition parties were ready to raise the issue unitedly before him.

Sources said that it was also decided in the meeting to raise the plight of farmers and common people in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and demand a loan waiver for farmers.

All parties decided that while Azad will raise the issue in Rajya Sabha, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge would raise the issue in Lok Sabha. Azad also gave an adjournment notice under Rule 267 for allowing a discussion on "hardships" faced by farmers due to demonetisation.

Opposition leaders have been meeting regularly every morning to decide on a united strategy in Parliament during the Winter Session, which has been a washout. Representatives of Congress, Trinamool Congress, BSP, SP, JD-U, CPI, CPI-M, NCP, DMK and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) were present in today's meeting.

PTI