NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said the government's move of demonetisation has "killed more people than Pakistani-backed terrorism".
Azad's observation came as the upper house met at 3 p.m. after the fifth adjournment during the day. The treasury benches erupted in protest over the remark and demanded an apology.
""Jitney log Pakistan ke terrorism se nahi marey, utney log government ki galat policy se chale gaye (The government's wrong policy has killed more people than the Pakistani backed terrorism," Azad said.
"Who should be held accountable and punished for the deaths of these labourers and farmers," Azad said, referring to the several who have died or committed suicide in frustration at not being able to withdraw their own money from banks over the last one week, post the demonetisation move.
At this, the ruling party members rose and loudly protested against the remarks and demanded an apology.
"We (Kashmiris) face bullets from Pakistan, you people have not been bitten by even a mouse. You are the people who attend weddings in Pakistan even without invitation," Azad retorted - referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sudden visit to Lahore last Christmas where to attended the wedding of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter.
