Demonetisation: PM Modi will intervene in Parliament ‘as and when required’, says Venkaiah Naidu

With the Opposition seeking Narendra Modi’s participation in the debate in Parliament over demonetisation, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said the Prime Minister will intervene in the issue ‘as and when required’ and appealed to rival parties to resume the discussion.

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned for the day as the Opposition locked horns with Treasury benches over demonetisation and demanded Modi’s presence during the discussion on the issue.

“Some of the Opposition parties are making issues out of non-issues. The Prime Minister is very much there in Parliament. He will come to the Houses and intervene as and when required,” Naidu said.

The Opposition initiated the debate, but they soon realised they had to escape it. They then brought the Prime Minister into it, unnecessarily, he alleged.

The minister appealed to the rival parties to allow the debate on the issue in Parliament, saying that disruption will ultimately hit the common man.

“I hope that our friends in the Opposition allow resumption of the debate in the House. Please debate, discuss and decide. Do not disrupt because the sufferers of disruption will be the common man,” he said.

The Prime Minister is “very keen that debates take place in the House”, he said and urged the Opposition not to “spoil the positive narratives which ultimately benefit the people”.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) has sought legal opinion on moving a contempt notice against Modi for announcing policy matters like demonetisation outside Parliament, but not coming to the House to explain it to them.

“If the Prime Minister makes a major policy announcement outside Parliament, particularly when it has been summoned by the President, it is incumbent that he comes to both the Houses to explain the issue. This has not been done,” party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said.