PM Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley brief party lawmakers as opposition plans shut down today over notes ban
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met this morning with MPs from his party and, in what attendees described as an emotional speech, said his shock decision earlier this month to abolish 500 and 1,000-rupee notes was taken "to help the poor." The government has stressed that the notes ban is aimed at checking black money, corruption and money-laundering.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:
PM Modi told his party's lawmakers that the opposition is "spreading misinformation" and urged them to inform the public about the many benefits of the reform. "This is the beginning, not the end," said the PM about his plan to fight tax evasion.
The BJP parliamentarians then passed a resolution backing the PM's "daring initiative" with "a national project of cleansing the system." The lengthy statement also berated the opposition for being "desperate to provoke violence and chaos."
The statement praised the government for "pro-active" responses every day to help people, a reference to the near-daily tweaking of rules on how much money can be pulled out or exchanged by people.
The BJP expressed its confidence that those waiting in long lines for cash support the reform and are "queueing for a better India".
The opposition says PM Modi must explain his move in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority. "He should come and listen to the pain people have faced because of his decision," said regional heavyweight Mayawati. In the Lok Sabha, the opposition wants a debate followed by a vote.
"The PM can speak on television, address a pop concert, so why not to parliament," complained Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, referring to Mr Modi's comments made by video link to the Coldplay concert in Mumbai over the weekend.
The government has said that PM Modi will not speak in the Rajya Sabha, but that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is ready to answer the opposition's questions. Mr Jaitley says the refusal of the opposition to allow that proves it does not really want to engage on the initiative.
Members of the Congress and Trinamool Congress carried placards declaring "Financial Emergency" into the area near the Speaker or the well of the house, which is off-limits.
Tomorrow, opposition parties will hold a large protest within the parliament complex.
Opposition leaders like Sharad Yadav say 70 people have died as a result of waiting in line or other problems caused by the notes ban and the government must apologise to their families and compensate them with 10 lakhs each.
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