Rahul leads opposition charge on note ban anniv
ATTACK Cong terms demonetisation, GST a ‘surgical strike’, seeks apology from PM, Jaitley
NEW DELHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led the opposition onslaught on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government on the first anniversary of demonetisation on Wednesday, calling the move a “tragedy” and a “thoughtless act” that “destroyed” the livelihood of millions of honest Indians.
Gandhi also wrote an article on the issue in the Financial Times and interacted with traders in poll-bound Gujarat’s Surat to understand their grievances.
The Congress and other opposition parties observed the note ban anniversary as a “black day”, held nationwide protests, and organised rallies and candle-light marches.
Unfazed by the criticism, Modi called demonetisation a “decisive battle” 125 crore Indians fought against black money and won.
He added that he “bows” to the people for supporting the measures taken against corruption and black money.
However, terming demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a “surgical strike” that destroyed India’s growth story, the grand old party demanded an apology to the nation from the PM and finance minister Arun Jaitley for the “mistake”. Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told a news conference that the “double whammy” of demonetisation and GST was being felt across the country.
“The disastrous demonetisation and unprepared implementation of GST has led to a surgical strike on the Indian economy,” he said.
“It not only destroyed India’s growth story but also rendered crores of people jobless and resulted in shutdown of businesses.
That is why the PM and finance minister should apologise to the country.”
The news conference was also addressed by Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev, Youth Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Brar and Congress Seva Dal head Mahendra Joshi.
“It would have been good had they admitted demonetisation was a mistake, sought an apology and initiated probe.
One’s stature does not go down by seeking an apology but Modi is so drunk on the arrogance of power that he is not willing to accept it,” Surjewala said.
Retaliating to the charges, BJP chief Amit Shah said people would no longer be “misled by such falsity”.
He said the Congress had always grabbed power with false portrayal of the poor but it could no longer dupe the country with “false tears and false pictures”.
Seeking to embarrass Gandhi, who had tagged last year’s viral picture of ex-serviceman Nand Lal in tears as he waited for his turn to withdraw notes, Shah attached a fresh interview of the ex-soldier supporting note ban.
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