India currency demonetisation
A cashier displays the new 2000 Indian rupee banknotes inside a bank in Jammu Mukesh Gupta/Reuters

Opposition leaders have been demanding that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in parliament over the currency withdrawal but the right-wing leader has so far refused. Instead, two weeks after the announcement, Modi has released a detailed questionnaire asking the public to respond to the government's drive.

With opposition to the demonetisation constantly growing, Modi has been left with no option but to come up with a series of damage-control measures.

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Modi held a meeting with his party's parliamentarians on Tuesday, 22 November, at which he asked them to create awareness among the public over the government's real intentions behind the currency crackdown.

"Demonetisation is not the end but the beginning of our deep and continuous struggle against 'black money' and corruption," Modi told them, according to local reports. After the meeting, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) senior leader Venkaiah Naidu told reporters that the MPs unanimously hailed Modi's move.

On 8 November, Modi had announced that Rs 500 (£6) and Rs 1,000 (£12) banknotes would cease to be legal tender with immediate effect. The shocking decision dealt a massive blow to the heavily cash- dependent Indian economy crippling multiple sectors.

Stepping up his attacks on Modi, Rahul Gandhi, vice-president of the main opposition Congress party, said: "The PM can speak on television, address a pop concert, so why not to parliament?" referring to Modi's recent speeches at other events.

Another senior parliamentarian, Sitaram Yechury, from the left-wing echoed Gandhi's views: "When parliament is in session, PM everyday goes out speaking outside but not inside the parliament. This amounts to contempt of parliament."

Meanwhile, Modi has sought public opinion on the government's step through the Narendra Modi app on their smartphones. The app uses interactive tools to get user response to 10 questions asked by Modi.

Some of the questions are: "Do you think black money exists in India? Do you think the evil of corruption and black money needs to be fought and eliminated? What do you think of the government's move of banning old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes?"