5 Questions: PM Modi took over Finance Minister’s role, now he must reply in House, says Shantaram Naik

But why the insistence on the PM when the finance minister could have replied?

Because the PM took over the role of finance minister when he announced that decision. It was his duty to inform Parliament about it when winter session began since it was he who had made the announcement.

But the PM did attend Lok Sabha Wednesday and Rajya Sabha Thursday. Why still protest?

He came to the House after five days of protest by the Opposition. Even then he came to both Houses only on his question days —Wednesday in Lok Sabha and Thursday in Rajya Sabha. Even today he did not come in the Upper House in the evening when the entire Opposition wanted him to listen to the debate.

Hasn’t your notice now become infructuous as the PM has attended both Houses?

No, the notice remains. I had filed it under rules 187 and 188 [Rajya Sabha] on the ground that it was not proper for the PM to make a statement on demonetisation outside and then not attend Rajya Sabha and intervene in the debate when the session began. Besides the RBI notification was issued in violation of section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934… The PM is guilty of violation of the Act, the oath taken by him as prime minister and of the Rules of the Business of the House. Hence the notice stands.

Are other Opposition parties with you on this privilege notice?

We will talk to other parties if our notice is accepted by the chair.