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Demonetisation: PM Modi Created New 'Normal' With His Move, Arun Jaitley Tells Lok Sabha Amid Uproar

"This is a historic decision. The entire nation is welcoming it."
Anindito Mukherjee / Reuters

NEW DELHI -- Hailing the demonetisation drive initiated by the Centre, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaking all the stereotypes has created a new 'normal' with this historic endeavour.

Jaitley while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary meet said that banning of high-currency notes was a significant step taken by the NDA regime, adding it took a lot of courage to do so.

"This is a historic decision. The entire nation is welcoming it. By stopping the 'normal' of last 70 years, Prime Minister Modi has created a new 'normal'," said Jaitley.

Taking the opposition parties to task for training guns on the government for not debating the demonetisation issue in Parliament, Jaitley said the Centre is ready for a debate, adding the political rivals are creating unnecessary ruckus for belittling this initiative.

"We took the opposition by surprise when they asked for a debate and we agreed but before we could reply they started disruption by saying that we don't want to debate. We are ready for discussion on demonetisation and we have said it several times," he said.

Jaitley also lambasted the opposition for accusing the Centre of leaking the news of banning high denomination notes to a select few.

"Some people are saying that even the Finance Minister did not know of this decision and then on the contrary they say that the (ruling) party knew it beforehand," he said.

The Finance Minister also used the occasion to reach out to the farming community.

"For next few weeks, we are planning to focus on the agricultural sector. Rabi season is also coming, we need to assist all these needs," he said.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha witnessed uproarious scene on Tuesday as a united opposition stuck to its demand to discuss the demonetisation issue under rules entailing voting.

As soon as the House assembled, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that the Question Hour should be suspended to start the discussion.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, did not allow the suspension.

Opposition members belonging to the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Samajwadi Party trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans.

Amid the din, Speaker adjourned for the day.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.