NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in parliament today, but will he speak on the notes ban? That will depend on the floor strategies decided in two separate meetings held before Houses convene after a long weekend today. While PM Modi met with top ministers, a united opposition put its head together to decide on how to take on the government. With only three days of the winter session now remaining, both the BJP and the Congress have ordered their lawmakers to attend parliament in full strength.
The stand-off between the government and opposition over how to debate the notes ban continues. The opposition wants a vote at the end, the government says no. An offer from the Congress to discuss demonetisation under “no rule” was not received well by the ruling BJP last week.
The opposition has demanded that PM Modi must be present through the debate and then explain the notes ban. The BJP says the PM is ready to speak but the opposition has not allowed him to by disrupting parliament. Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said yesterday that PM Modi will be in parliament for the rest of the session, but added, “You want Prime Minister to come to House and listen to all the abuses. Who are they (opposition) to decide and dictate?”
If there is a debate, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will speak first and the BJP fears that the opposition may, after that speech, disrupt proceedings and not allow PM Modi to speak.
