PM Narendra Modi Makes Emotional Speech To Party Lawmakers On Notes Ban: 10 Facts

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi met this morning with MPs from his party and, in 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 note ban is aimed at checking black money, corruption and money-laundering.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:

1.    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. 

2.   The BJP parliamentarians then passed a resolution backing the government's decision to outlaw old notes.  
 
3.    While the PM was addressing his party, 11 opposition parties led by the Congress met to discuss their strategy against the government on the notes ban.    
 
4.    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.     

5.    "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.

6.    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.

7.    Members of the Congerss and Trinamool Congress carried placards declaring "Financial Emergency" into the area near the Speaker or the well of the house, which is off-limits.

8.    Tomorrow, opposition parties will hold a large protest within the parliament complex.

9.    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.

10.    PM Modi has sought 50 days to fix the cash problem, promising long-term benefits from the demonetisation.

Source: NDTV