Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad made the comments made shortly before the Rajya Sabha was adjourned
Controversial comments made by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament today on the currency ban have been expunged or deleted from records.
Mr Azad's comments, made shortly before the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday amid slogan shouting by opposition lawmakers, can now not be reported.
Senior union minister Venkaiah Naidu had severely criticised the Congress leader's comments as "atrocious, anti-national" and parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar demanded an unconditional apology from Mr Azad, who is Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha or Upper House of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha had yesterday begun a debate on the government's decision to withdraw 500 and 1000 rupee notes to combat the menace of black or untaxed money, but the opposition did not allow it to continue today, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present in the upper house and answer their questions.
The government has been equally adamant that it will not give in to that demand. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will reply to the debate in the Rajya Sabha.
Opposition parties have criticised the manner in which the notes ban was implemented causing problems for common people who have had to queue up for hours at banks for new notes, which are in short supply.
The government has said it was done in national interest and that the problems of the people will ease soon. No honest taxpayer will lose a single rupee, while those with unaccounted wealth will suffer, as will terror organisations that have been choked by the currency ban, the government has said.