Opposition parties agree on joint protests

Even as the Opposition on Monday dug its heels at a joint meeting on Monday, the month-long Winter Session of Parliament appears to be heading for a washout on the issue of demonetization. 

As the Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister who is leading Opposition protests on the issue of demonetization, is returning to the National Capital on Tuesday, the Opposition plans a series of measures which included a sit-in outside Parliament House on Wednesday and another march to the doorsteps of President Pranab Mukherjee. At the meeting, the Congress suggested a one-day nationwide bandh to put the government on the backfoot. Other parties said they will discuss it with their leaders before committing themselves. Keeping in view the sensitivities of the Left parties, which don’t want to be seen rubbing shoulders with their arch rival Mamata Banerjee, it was also decided that the march will not be led by anyone. 

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan continued the question hour in the Lok Sabha despite pandemonium, adjourning the House at noon and then for the day at 2 pm, even while the Rajya Sabha went through a series of adjournments until deputy chairman P J Kurien called it the day at 3 pm.