TERROR OF DEMONETISATION IS BACK, SAYS RAHUL GANDHI

Dares PM to allow him to speak in the LS for 15 minutes

With ATMs suddenly running dry in several states, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the "terror" of demonetisation has returned to haunt the country, slamming PM Modi for what he described as destroying India's banking system.

He took to Twitter to take a poetic dig at the Prime Minister and also spoke to reporters here, alleging that Modi has assured "acchhe din" for fugitive jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, leaving the poor of the country high and dry.

"Understand the deceit of demonetisation, your money goes into the pocket of Nirav Modi. Modiji's fascination for (Vijay) Mallya, the terror of note-bandi spreads again. The ATMs of the country are empty again, what is the condition of banks," Gandhi asked on the second day of his twoday visit to his parliamentary constituency.

He criticised Modi for his silence on the banking frauds allegedly committed by the diamond merchants who have fled the country.

"Modiji destroyed the banking system. Nirav Modi fled with Rs 30,000 crore and the Prime Minister didn't utter a word," Gandhi said, reports IANS.

"We were forced to stand in queues as he snatched Rs 500-1,000 notes from our pockets and put them in Nirav Modi's pocket."

He was replying to reporters' questions about the current cash crunch with ATMs running out of notes across the country.

Gandhi dared Modi to allow him to speak in the Lok Sabha for 15 minutes, saying the Prime Minister was scared of speaking in Parliament during the second half of the just concluded Budget Session which was completely washed out in protests. "Had we been allowed to speak in Parliament on Rafael (jets) issue, Nirav Modi matter, the Prime Minister won't be able to stand," he said.

The Congress President said Modi personally knew Nirav Modi and Choksi and called them by first names "Nirav bhai and Mehul bhai".

"The 'acchhe din' he (the Prime Minister) had promised for the nation have ushered only for 15 persons, including Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. For the poor of this country, including farmers, labourers and daily-wagers, it is all 'bure din'."

Addressing a public rally after inaugurating more than a dozen developmental projects in Jagesarpur in Amethi, the Congress chief said while the Prime Minister boasted of a "56-inch chest", in reality he has no place for the poor in his heart.