Big blow to Opposition unity as Rahul Gandhi meets PM Narendra Modi; SP, BSP, NCP and DMK drop out of Congress protest march

In a big blow to the unity of Opposition over demonetisation that lasted throughout the Winter Session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi just ahead of a Congress-led protest march to Rashtrapati Bhavan against the government’s notes ban move.

The Opposition, which had been united over the demonetisation issue, appeared divided as Left parties including Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Nationalist Congress Party, and the DMK decided not to take part in the protest march to meet President.

The parties who opted out of the protest march are upset about Congress seeking a meeting with the PM without involving the Opposition parties. 

Earlier on Friday, PM Modi met Rahul amid logjam in Parliament over demonetisation. PM Modi reportedly told Rahul Gandhi that they should “meet regularly like this”.

ALSO READ | We should meet regularly like this, PM Narendra Modi tells Rahul Gandhi

The meeting between Rahul and PM Modi took place at Parliament two days after the former claimed that he had information about the latter’s "personal corruption" that can "explode his balloon".

Rahul raised a demand for substantial loan waivers for farmers, cutting farmer’s electricity bills by half and increasing of supporting price of crops.

ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi meets PM Narendra Modi over waiving of farmers’ loans

"We have requested Prime Minister to waive off farmers' loans. PM accepted that the situation of farmers is bad but he did not say anything on waiving farmers' loans," said Rahul Gandhi after meeting PM.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge responded to the PM’s comment saying: "Even if our hearts don't meet, we can at least cooperate and shake hands."