NEW DELHI / AGARTALA, Nov 24 (TIWN): Unruffled by the intensified attack from the opposition over the demonetisation decision, the government on Wednesday said over 93 per cent of people taking part in an app-based survey supported the move. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought public opinion on his official app where a number of questions have been posted vis-a-vis scrapping of old Rs 500/1,000 notes. Over five lakh (half a million) people participated in the survey within 24 hours."I thank people for the historic participation in the survey. It's satisfying to read the insightful views and comments," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. As per the results posted by Prime Minister Modi in his Twitter account, only two per cent have rated the move as 'very poor'.
The survey also said that about 86 per cent people believe that some "so-called anti-corruption activists" are now batting in support of black money and even terrorist funding.

Leaders of Congress, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), BSP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, RJD, JMM and DMK held a meeting to forge a common plan of action with an aim of mounting attack on the government. At the meeting, which was attended by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, it was decided that these parties will continue to press for an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha and a debate under a rule which entails voting. 

Adressing the press meet TMC leader in Tripura, Sudip Barman said, "Demonetisation brought a mixed response, few public are saying it's a very good decision, but question is are the VIP persons standing in lines? No.. only the common people are suffering".

Demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the House, opposition parties formed the human chain stretching across Gandhi statue. "The nation is standing in line and we are doing just that here," Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said.

Lok Sabha witnessed a virtual washout for the fifth consecutive day as government and opposition parties continued to clash over the demonetisation issue and the rule under which a debate should take place on it, with the former ruling out any provision of voting in the discussion.

Opposition members, including those from Congress, TMC, RJD, CPI(M) and BJD, besides SAD and Shiv Sena, both part of the ruling NDA, expressed their views in the House when it assembled at noon after one adjournment, with the Sena changing its stance on demonetisation and sparing the government of embarrassment by praising the move and supporting its stand that the debate be held under Rule 193, which does not entail voting.

The CPI(M) on Wednesday said it will observe November 28 as ‘All India Protest Day’ to protest against the withdrawal of Rs 500/1000 currency notes by the government and the problems faced by the people, especially poor and marginalised, due to the decision. It also put forward its demand that the government should allow transaction using Rs 500 and Rs 1000 demonetised notes till an alternative arrangements for distribution of new notes was put in place.

On the other hand, the survey posed 10 questions, to which replies were to be given in the form of rating system from one star to five star.

More than 90 per cent of those joining the survey feel the government's move to tackle black money is above four star rating and above 73 per cent seemed fully satisfied.

On the question of inconvenience caused, 43 per cent people did not mind the inconvenience caused at all, 48 per cent said that it was worth it and 8 per cent disliked the inconvenience.

The demonetisation announced on November 8 has triggered chaos across the country, with people continuing to line up outside banks and ATMs in interminably long queues.

About 66 per cent survey participants completely agreed that demonetisation would bring real estate, higher education and healthcare within common man's reach, 27 per cent partially agreed and 6 per cent were not sure.

Over 92 per cent of the respondents either rated the government as 'very good' or 'good' for its overall fight against corruption.

About 98 per cent people felt that the black money existed in India and 99 per cent said that they think the evil of corruption of black money needed to be fought and eliminated.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala called the survey a "gimmick".

He tweeted: "Modi Govt manufactures yet another lie through self-serving survey on #DeMonetisation. You can't fool people of India through such gimmicks. #DeMonetisation A trumped up survey, manufactured questions & pre-fabricated answers by blind bhakts. Who cares for the pain of common Indian?"