Want to speak on lot of issues in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi

"I have come here to speak. Let's see if the government allows me to speak," Gandhi told reporters outside the Parliament.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. | PTI

NEW DELHI: After accusing the government of not allowing him to speak in Parliament on demonetisation, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said he wanted to speak on a lot of issues and it was to be seen if the government allows it.

"I have come here to speak. Let's see if the government allows me to speak," Gandhi told reporters outside the Parliament.

Gandhi had on Friday last said his party wants a debate on demonetisation so that the truth can come to the fore, but the government is running away from it.

The Congress leader had said that when he gets a chance to speak about demonetisation in the House, "the Prime Minister will not be able to even sit there... Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the history of India... I want to speak in Lok Sabha. I will tell everything there."

The Winter Session of Parliament resumed today after a four-day hiatus. It has seen little transaction of any substantial business due to ruckus over demonetisation and other issues.

TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who was accompanied by Gandhi, said the entire Parliamentary system is facing a "threat" as the government is not allowing the House to function smoothly and allow the opposition to speak.

"We cannot understand why so much arrogance on the part of the government. The voice of the opposition is going to be gagged. The parliamentary democratic system is now under threat only to resist that Rahul Gandhi will not be allowed to speak," he said.

He said the government is spreading rumours that after Rahul Gandhi speaks, the opposition will not allow the House to function. "It is totally incorrect," he said.

Bandyopadhyay charged the government is not allowing the opposition to speak in Lok Sabha and this was "unfortunate and disgraceful".

P Karunakaran (CPI-M) said all 16 parties came together on the issue of demonetisation and wanted a discussion on the issue, but the government is now allowing this.

"Government is not willing to answer questions. The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament but has not come to the Lok Sabha. It is very clear that they are not ready to answer the questions raised. The Prime Minister is running away from Parliament which means he is running away from people," he said.

NCP leader Tariq Anwer said this is the first time that such an atmosphere has been created where the opposition is not allowed to speak.

"It is a conspiracy by the government. The entire opposition is united. What is the government fearing from. We are all united. Let us be allowed to speak," he said.

Gandhi was accompanied by a few other party leaders besides his own leaders in Lok Sabha, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Earlier leaders of 16 opposition parties today met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad's and decided to launch a united offensive against the government on demonetisation.

They also decided to launch a united offensive against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is under opposition fire over his alleged role in the "Arunachal power scam".