Modi must apologise to nation for note ban, says Oppn

New Delhi: A united Opposition on Monday held a strategy meeting before the Parliament session to chalk out a strategy to counter the government on demonetization. In the meeting, it was decided that an apology would be demanded from the Prime Minister for causing problems to the nation through the move to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who chaired a meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs, said that Modi must come and talk to the Opposition inside the House.

“BJP is saying Opposition has called for Bharat Bandh, but in reality PM through his demonetisation move already did this,” claimed Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati.

Mayawati also said that the BJP must reveal the cash deposits made for the last 10 months as well as declare land bought for its offices.

When the Rajya Sabha session began, uproar continued, following which deputy chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

The Congress earlier hit ack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pointing fingers at the opposition instead of rectifying his fault and said the 'Aakrosh Divas' is being observed to highlight the nation's anger due to the government's demonetisation drive.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, also rubbished reports suggesting that a 'Bharat Bandh' has been called on Monday.

"Who is calling for Bharat Bandh? We said that we will be observing 'Aakrosh Divas' and we are doing all this to show the anger which is within the common man. Is it wrong to stand for the people of the nation?" asked Kharge.

"I will say that befooling people by making irrelevant statements is not good. Instead of rectifying their fault, the Prime Minister is pointing fingers at us and this does not suit him," he added.

The opposition parties have called for a countrywide protest today against what they call the government's "mishandling" of the currency ban. Only the Left Front, which has a presence in Kerala, Bengal and Tripura, has called for a strike or 'Bharat Bandh' in the three states.

Prime Minister Modi yesterday slammed the opposition for its all-India shutdown call over demonetisation, saying the country instead needed an end to evils like corruption and black money.

Addressing the BJP's Parivartan Rally in Kasya assembly segment of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said, "On the one hand we are initiating steps to curb corruption, but on the other hand a few people are talking about 'Bharat Bandh'."

He described demonetisation as a cure to the 70-year-old disease of corruption.