200 MPs of Opposition parties to protest to President today

New Delhi: Even as Parliament’s Winter Session has turned out to be a near-washout, Opposition parties decided to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday, the last day, and apprise him of how they were not allowed to speak in the House.

The grouping would include about 200 MPs from all 16 Opposition parties who have come together to oppose the government’s demonetisation move. The MPs would be led by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

The MPs belong to the Congress, Trinamool Congress, BSP, SP, JD(U), CPI, CPI-M, NCP, DMK and AIUDF. The President had last week criticised the Opposition for not letting the House function.

The Winter Session has seen a constant slugfest between the Opposition and the government on the nature of debate that should happen on demonetisation.

While the Opposition initially demanded a discussion under either an adjournment motion or a rule entailing voting, the ruling side said there could not be any discussion followed by voting, and listed the debate under Rule 193.

Since Friday last week, the government has hardened its stance refusing to allow a debate on demonetisation, asking the Congress to explain a sting operation purportedly showing some party leaders trying to convert black currency into white.

The decision to meet the President was taken at a meeting held in the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and representatives of various other parties.

The MPs would meet the President and submit a memorandum in which they will complain against the ruling party for not allowing them to speak in Parliament, sources said. The parties have also decided to raise the issue of plight of farmers in both the Houses on Friday, the final day of the Winter Session.

Sources said that all parties decided that while Mr Azad will raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha, the Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, would raise the issue in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Azad has also given an adjournment notice under Rule 267 for allowing a discussion on “hardships” faced by farmers due to demonetisation.