Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday took on the Opposition asking it to apologise to the country for not letting Parliament function over the issue of demonetisation.Naidu said the people had already given a huge mandate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government since 2014 and through different local civic body elections."The opposition should apologise to the people for disrupting Parliament ... and for damaging the country for so many years," Naidu said here."First, you don't let Parliament function, then you ask for voting ... It will be embarrassing for you if there is a voting ... Voting was done in 2014 in Assam, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh ... People had already given their mandate," Naidu said.
Pointing towards former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Naidu said: "Manmohan Singh has caused huge damage to the country in terms of inflation... It is the Congress which should apologise," he said.Taking a jibe at the joint opposition that criticised the government over demonetisation, Naidu said all the calls of "temporary friends" had failed."You made a temporary tent which fell... all your attempts and calls like the countrywide shutdowns had failed... you are not united," Naidu said.Saying that the Congress has mismanaged and misinformed the country, Naidu also took on the party's Vice President Rahul Gandhi for calling the Prime Minister names. "They are making cheap comments against the Prime Minister. You can accuse the Prime Minister but not abuse him... The PM is an institution, masses follow him, entire world speaks in favour of Modi," Naidu said.