Rajya Sabha witnessed a fierce debate on the recent note ban imposed by the Modi govt. Congress leader Anand Sharma led the Opposition’s charge, asking Centre why ‘were all Indians being criminalised’ by the move.
“86% of the currency in the markets was 500/1000 notes, was scrapped by just one announcement. Was it all black?,” Sharma asked the House.
BJP hit back at Congress for criticising demonetisation and said despite facing hardships the common man in India was lauding the government’s ‘surgical strike’ against black money.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad requested the government to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Rajya Sabha session and listen to what the Opposition parties had to say on various issues.
“We are not revealing the names of those who have stashed their money in Swiss banks, because once we make the names public, then the notices that we want from the foreign governments, we will stop receiving them. Does the Congress want us to give the names to public so that the culprits can find an escape route?,” BJP asked Congress.
“This step is a celebration of honesty; everybody agrees that the trouble cause by the note ban is only temporary. The people of the country are ready to suffer a little because they know that this step has been taken by the Narendra Modi to fight black money, corruption, drugs and terrorism,” BJP said.
“Many people have been facing hardships due to demonetisation and we sympathise with them, but we will have to make sacrifices to eliminate black money. Despite hardship, India is supporting Modi’s decision to demonetise big notes,” BJP leader Piyush Goel said, hitting back at Congress.
BSP chief Mayawati interrupted BJP leader Piyush Goel and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take part in the discussion.
Congress alleged that govt’s decision to ban higher denominations was ‘secretly leaked’, claiming that BJP deposited crores before demonetisation was imposed.
“The Prime Minister has criminalised the common man of India who has been lining up outside banks for the past 5-6 days,” Congress alleged.
“If you were fully prepared for the move, then why was there no cash in banks? They later said it would take time for ATMs to be recalibrated.”
“Black money is stashed by the rich, why are the poor being punished for their crimes. Do farmers have credit cards? Which economy works without cash?” said Congress.
The government has created an environment where nobody is allowed to question the decisions of those in power, Congress alleged.
Congress claimed that the government has a list of those holding black money in Swiss Banks and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reveal their names.
