Demonetisation is just the beginning of fight against black money: Modi
New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution in support of demonetisation at its Parliamentary Party meet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated him for his "great crusade" against black money and corruption.
“Demonetisation is not the end but beginning of our deep and continuous struggle against blackmoney and corruption,” Modi said at the meet.
“We passed a resolution in favour of demonetisation, it was moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh,” said Venkaiah Naidu after the party meet. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also spoke to the media and reiterated the government's readiness to debate any issue.
“We are ready for discussion on demonesation, have said it many times. This is a big decision that requires a lot of courage from the govt's part,” Jaitley said.
Lauding his government, Jaitley said it takes a lot of courage for a someone in power to make a move like demonetisation. "By stopping the 'normal' of last 70 years, PM Modi has created a new 'normal'. The whole country is supporting the move, it is a historic step," Jaitley said.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties too held a meet in the Parliament on Tuesday, a day after they resolved to corner the government on demonetisation within and outside Parliament.
Finding a common ground on demonetisation which has caused hardship to people, leaders of the Congress, Trinamul, JD(U), BSP, CPM, CPI, NCP, RJD, JMM and the DMK had held a meeting in on Monday too, to forge a common plan of action with an aim of mounting an attack on the government.
The Congress has led the Opposition in the demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak in the Rajya Sabha on the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
However, the government had made it clear that Modi will not speak in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority, and that finance minister Arun Jaitley will answer their questions. “Merits and demerits will come out in a debate... Why are they (Opposition parties) running away from a debate?,”’ Jaitley had said.
“This is clear now that the Opposition is not ready for debate and is coming up with new excuses to disrupt the House,” Jaitley added amid slogan shouting by Opposition members who were in the well of the House.
Leaders of the 10 parties decided that their MPs will stage a sit-in near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Parliament complex on Wednesday. This will be followed by a march to Rashtrapati Bhawan, date for which is being worked out, the sources said.