BJP, Opp. lock horns over DeMo

Cong says note ban led to large-scale job losses, BJP says it created jobs

The ruling BJP and the Congress-led Opposition locked horns on Wednesday over the contentious move by the government to demonetise high-value currency notes a year ago. While the Congress observed November 8 as a “black day”, the BJP marked it as “antiblack money day”, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanking the people for supporting the note ban.

In a decision that has been much debated ever since, the Prime Minister had announced the demonetisation of `500 and `1,000 currency notes exactly a year back in a bid to curb black money and boost the digital economy. BJP ministers, chief ministers and members of Parliament took to Twitter to celebrate “anti-black money day”. Mr Modi said he “bows” to the people of India for supporting measures taken by the government against corruption and black money. Demonetisation was a decisive battle where 125 crore Indians fought against black money and won, he said.

In a series of tweets, the PM posted short films on his Twitter handle to showcase demonetisation’s benefits. He said the move formalised the Indian economy and ensured better jobs for the poor, while cleansing the financial system.

The Congress, on the other hand, said demonetisation of `500 and `1,000 notes had led to large-scale job losses, specially in the informal sector. In a hard-hitting article in London’s prestigious Financial Times, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi wrote: “Mr Modi has damaged India by converting anger created by joblessness and lack of economic opportunity into communal hatred. He has chosen to hide behind a shallow, hate-filled political narrative. Anger might have brought Mr Modi to power, but it will never create jobs or fix India’s institutions.”

He said: “The Prime Minister claimed