President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday criticised the uproar in Parliament over the demonetisation drive, and said “For God’s sake, do your job.” Referring to the legislators, Mukherjee said “You are meant to transact business in Parliament. Disruption of Parliament is not acceptable at all.”

His statements were an apparent reference to the sloganeering and protests that continued to stall House proceedings for the third week of the Winter Session.The president was speaking at the Defence Estate Day Lecture 2016 in Delhi.

He said parliamentary freedoms should not be abused to cause disruptions. While stating that he had no intention of blaming any individuals, he said the disruption in Parliament has become a practice.

The demonetisation drive completed a month on Thursday, and members of the Opposition wore black bands to Parliament as part of their protest. Mukherjee said, “Leaders are not elected to sit in dharna in Parliament. You can sit for protests in other places. But you are meant to exercise your authority as a Lok Sabha member and do your job.”

His statements follow Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani’s criticism of the Opposition’s protests against demonetisation and the ruckus in Parliament. On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will not be legal tender. He said the step was taken to fight black money, corruption and the circulation of counterfeit currency in the country.

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