Note ban: Cong not sorry, says Govt must apologise for putting nation on edge

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday again demanded in Parliament that Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad apologise for his remarks comparing demonetisation to the Pakistan-sponsored Uri terror attacks in which 19 Indian jawans were killed.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today raised Azad's controversial remark in the Upper House and said, "Congress is trying to destroy the fight against corruption."

"The Leader of Opposition in the House should apologise to the nation for his comments against the prime minister, who is fighting for the poor and the weak," he added.

But Azad said there is no question of apologising for his remark. Instead, he called for an apology from the government to the people of India.

Talking to the media, Azad said, "BJP should ask apology for pushing the country to edge. The kind of situation that is presently created it is all because of the BJP government."

No business could be transacted by the Lok Sabha on Day 3 either as ruckus and sloganeering by Opposition members forced it to be adjourned till Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers of his government had met in the former's chamber in Parliament this morning before the commencement of the Winter Session.

On day 2 of the winter session, both Houses were adjourned on Thursday as a united opposition demanded a debate on demonetisation, including voting, which was rejected by the government.

Opposition parties attacked the Centre saying the demonetisation move has hit the poor and the marginalised.

The main opposition Congress Party on Thursday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made demonetisation announcement on November 8, and thus, until the former comes to the Rajya Sabha, there will be no discussion on the issue.

"We raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha yesterday that the demonetisation announcement was made by the Prime Minister, therefore, he should have been present in the House, and should have listened to the opposition, and answered too. We wanted his presence in the House yesterday, but he did not turn up. We have been demanding since morning, and had also made it clear to the leader of the House yesterday, that until the Prime Minister comes to the Upper House, there will be no discussion on the issue," the leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad told ANI.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati also sought a reply from the Prime Minister on the ongoing discussion on demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Mayawati said the issue is sensitive and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) should be set up to probe the alleged leakage of the decision on demonetisation.