NDA Preps For Clash In Parliament On Notes Ban; Sena, Akalis Play Along

New Delhi: Faced with a united opposition prepping an onslaught in Parliament as the winter session begins this week, the ruling BJP on Monday won a vital vote of support from its partners in the National Democratic Alliance or NDA for what they called two strikes - the surgical strike by the Army against terrorists and the one against corruption by abolishing 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.

"When a new home is built, there is dust but construction doesn't stop," said Bihar ally Ram Vilas Paswan after a meeting of the NDA on Monday evening. It was held immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met BJP lawmakers and said that the "country is with the government" on the currency ban.

"At the meeting, all parties and members have in one voice praised the leadership qualities of PM Modi with regard to the decision to have surgical strikes and with regard to this historic, bold and revolutionary decision of a war against corruption and black money," senior union minister Venkaiah Naidu said after the meeting.

"Even people standing in (ATM and Bank) queues for hours say it's a historic decision and we are happy to be a part of it," Mr Naidu added.

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Ally Shiv Sena has earlier criticised the demonetisation, but today its Rajya Sabha lawmaker Sanjay Raut said, "The government has all the right to take steps to curb black money and we are with the government".

With the notes ban impacting election funding just ahead of assembly elections in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal was also expected to voice concern, but its Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said his party backed "all moves against the corrupt".

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Shortly before the BJP and then the NDA met, the Congress called a meeting of opposition parties to discuss how to unitedly confront the government on the currency ban. They have accused the Centre of punishing poor people with the cash crunch that has followed the ban on big notes.

At the opposition meeting arch rivals the Trinamool Congress and the Left shook hands and agreed to launch a concerted attack on the government. The Congress and Left are however yet to confirm whether they will join a march being organised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress on Wednesday to petition the President against the demonetisation and demand that it be revoked.           

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The government is clear that there is no going back on its move, designed to check mate those who hold black or untaxed money. PM Modi has stressed that he "feels the pain" of the people from the inconvenience caused by the sudden decision, but has promised that all problems will be solved within 50 days.