Its members will join the march with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the President House demand a rollback of demonetization. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and National Conference have also decided to join the march.
The winter session of Parliament seems heading for a washout with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner Shiv Sena also choosing to distance itself from BJP and side with the opposition parties on demonetization issue.
Its members will join the march with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the President House demand a rollback of demonetization. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and National Conference have also decided to join the march.
Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "If PM can share a dais with Sharad Pawar whom we fought against in these elections, why can't we march with Mamata? This (demonetization) is only BJP's decision, not NDA's. We were never consulted."
Appearing a little concerned, the BJP said it was hopeful that the Shiv Sena would back the government.
"In war against black money, if the Shiv Sena was standing by the Prime Minister it would have been good. We are hopeful the Shiv Sena wants economic development and for that black money outside banks should return," said BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the ministers and the party MPs not to be defensive but go offensive on the issue of the demonetization.
Though opting out of the march, the other main opposition parties – Congress, JDU, CPM, CPI, NCP and even the sworn enemies SP and BSP have decided to forge a united front in both the houses against government's ill conceived and ill timed demonetization move.
The opposition parties decided to concentrate all energies in the Parliament to help the people hit by the demonetisation and establish that it is not to curb the black money but indirectly help its hoarders, said Congress.
It said they have decided there is no need to rush to President on demonetisation on the very first day of Parliament session tomorrow.
"All opposition parties will meet again tomorrow to chalk out further strategy on demonetization," said Sharad Yadav of JDU.
The TMC, Left and JD (U) have already given notices in both the Houses to suspend all business and first discuss the fallout of demonetisation of the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.
The issue will rock the upper house on Wednesday while the ruckus will hit the Lok Sabha on Thursday as the House will adjourn on the opening day on account of the death of sitting Trinamul MP Renuka Sinha (67) on August 17.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "The whole opposition is united on the issue. Even if the government tries to break its unity that it is trying hard, it will not succeed this time."
Warning the BJP to brace for more, Congress legislature party leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, demonetization has turned out to be a big scam. "We will expose this scam on the floor of the house in parliament."
Congress sources said in their internal meeting, Sonia Gandhi, top party leaders were of the view that implementation of demonetisation move along with its alleged leakage to BJP leaders should be questioned in both houses of Parliament.
The inevitable confrontation between the treasury and the opposition benches may put a question mark on the three Bills proposed to be passed during the session for bringing in the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April 1.
The Congress has already announced to oppose the four slabs of the tax going up to 28 per cent, asserting that the government is defeating the very purpose of a single tax with 18 per cent cap to reduce tax burden on the people.
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