Note ban is Modi's biggest, impromptu financial experiment: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Opposition parties on Wednesday staged a massive protest in front of the iconic Gandhi statue in Parliament to protest against the Centre’s decision to demonetise big notes.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the move and asked what was stopping him from attending the debate in Parliament.

“What PM has done is biggest impromptu financial experiment, he didn't discuss this with anyone. Opposition parties are only demanding that PM should come and address the Parliament, why isn't he coming?” Rahul asked.

“We feel that this decision is a scam; PM informed his close friends about this before-hand; want JPC probe in this,” he added.

The leaders were seen holding placards with slogans that said note ban was “not a surgical strike; carpet bombing of common people.” Kanimozhi held up a sign which said “stop persecution of common people”.

The question is, Rahul Gandhi said, why have one billion people been "harassed" in this manner. "That's the question. It is a question of complete centralisation of power. I have been saying that the country cannot be run in this manner.

"You have hit the economy, which was running fine. But it is not running the way it was running during UPA, but it was somehow running. You have hit it hard," he said.

Gandhi said a cent percent united opposition was standing outside Parliament and the entire opposition is united, over 200 MPs are standing and the Prime Minister should tell why he has taken this decision.

He said all opposition parties, the Congress party and everybody is for fighting corruption and black money.