Demonetisation: Govt rejects demand for Prime Minister’s reply

Government on Thursday rejected the demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response on the debate on demonetisation and accused the opposition of using it as an excuse to scuttle discussion on the issue in Parliament.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after Parliament was adjourned for the day, amid protests by opposition demanding Modi’s presence, that the reply to the debate would be given by the minister concerned or any other person on behalf of the government as per the rules of the House and precedents.

The opposition disrupted the Rajya Sabha, stalling midway the discussion on demonetisation that started on Wednesday.

A united opposition’s relentless demand for a debate on demonetisation under a rule which entails voting forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha also for the day as the government refused to accept it.