New Delhi: Congress on Friday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have a debate with the Opposition on demonetisation while accusing him of shying away from Parliament to avoid "facing the truth" when it was deliberating on the issue.
On a day the demonetisation issue rocked Parliament, scores of Youth Congress workers held a march, alleging withdrawal of high-value notes is part of a "big scam" and aimed at loot of public money.
Speaking to the protesters, senior party leader Anand Sharma charged Modi of committing "injustice" to the country and "spoiling" India's image globally by taking such a huge decision without any preparation to implement it.
He said a Joint Parliamentary Committee must be appointed to probe the entire issue.
"A debate is on in Parliament and there is a deadlock. Opposition has demanded that Prime Minister listen to us and explain his move. They (ruling party) say Narendra Modi is in Parliament premises but will not come to the House. What is this? He is avoiding Parliament to avoid facing the truth," Sharma said.
He also challenged the Prime Minister for a debate with the Opposition on demonetisation.
"We will not allow him to pile up miseries on the common citizens. It is such a big scam and loot of public money. We have demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe it. Our fight will continue till the government relents and demand of probe is met.
"People including farmers, small traders and workers are worst hit by the undeclared financial emergency by the Modi government as 86 per cent of currencies has been withdrawn in a blow to the economy."
He also slammed government's use of indelible ink by banks to mark people who withdraw money and charged Modi government with "insulting" not only people of the country.
"No government can stoop to such level where people withdrawing their own money are being marked with ink. They are withdrawing their own money and not black money. Foreign tourists are also being similarly insulted if they go to banks," he said.
He called upon Youth Congress activists to create awareness among the masses against demonetisation by Modi government and struggle against it.
Hundreds of activists marched towards Parliament from All India Youth Congress office on Raisina Road. However, they were stopped and around 450 protesters were detained and taken to Parliament Street police station. They were later released.
