The debate on demonetization may rock both Houses of Parliament on Thursday.
In Rajya Sabha, finance minister Arun Jaitley will reply to the Opposition’s charges against the government over the decision to scrap the high denomination bank notes.
In Lok Sabha, Congress vice president, a vocal critic of the note ban, will participate in the discussions and is expected to take potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on how the decision has led to plight of the common people.
It will also be interesting to watch how the Opposition evolves its strategy after Jaitley’s speech. A section of the Opposition is demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee—a panel with members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha—to probe if the BJP knew in advance the government’s plan to scrap two bank notes and related issues.
“Let us see, how the Centre reacts to our demand. We will decide our future course of action thereafter,” said CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
Outside Parliament, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and her West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee will hold a joint rally in Azadpur sabzi mandi, one of the key areas worst hit by the demonetization. The leaders will address the concerns of the traders but also attack the Narendra Modi government.
On Wednesday, the Opposition had accused the government for plunging the nation in economic anarchy. They also accused that the Centre had leaked the information about demonetization to some of its corporate friends.
Even as the government has listed two bills in Rajya Sabha, the centre may face difficult time to pass them.
[Source:-HINDUSTAN TIMES]
