Opposition corners govt on demonetisation

 Opposition parties on Monday cornered the NDA government in the Rajya Sabha for excluding demonetisation and its adverse effects on the common man in the President’s address, which was approved by the Union Cabinet.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury accused the BJP-led coalition at the Centre of orchestrating a “deception game” that led to “disruption and diversion”in the country to further its “diabolical agenda” of creating a “rabidly intolerant Hindu state”.

“Their plan was to create disruption and not allow people to think so that they can continue with their diabolical agenda,” Yechury said, participating in a debate on the Presidential address on the first day of the Budget session.

Yechury would be among the Upper House lawmakers who would move a large number of amendments to the Motion of Thanks, including several amendments on the exclusion of the note ban issue.

The government will have to brace through 651 amendments, including 19 on demonetisation, submitted by the MPs in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority.
If the amendments are approved, it would be considered an embarrassment for the government.

Yechury was supported by JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, who narrated the plight of the common man due to the currency crunch.

“The government must tell us how much black money has returned to the bank as 3.5 crore farmers faced a huge problem,” he said.