Centre has proven itself as a ‘trial and error’ government: Congress

The Congress Party on Friday slammed the Centre by branding them as a ‘trial and error government’, giving reference to the flurry of announcements and decisions taken after 16 days of the demonetisation scheme declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Modi government has now been proved to be a government of trial and error, instead of facilitating the people of India. It is suffocating the people of India by successive change of decisions. 16 days passed demonetisation 32 orders have been issued for people to follow. Can anybody comprehend and understand them,” Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told ANI in New Delhi.

Further accusing the Prime Minister of going back on his word, he further said that the constant change in the deadline for the exchange of new currency had led to massive confusion and inconvenience, especially among the poor.

Surjewala asserted that the latest decision by the Centre of completely stopping exchange of notes was nothing short of utopian.

“Suddenly one more utopian decision has been taken to completely stop exchange of notes. What will happen to the unorganized sector? What will happen to the large un-bankable economy of this country as only 53% of people have bank account” he said.

The government has extended the facility of using old Rs 500 notes in public utilities and certain other services like pre-paid mobile top-up till December 15 and stopped the over-the-counter exchange of defunct currencies and use of Rs 1,000 notes.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Rs 1,000 notes would no longer be allowed to be used for the list of exemptions the government had announced. These notes can, however, be deposited in bank accounts.

“It has been observed that over-the-counter exchange of the old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination has shown a declining trend. It has further been felt that people may be encouraged and facilitated to deposit their old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in their bank accounts,” the Ministry said in a statement.

It has been decided that these exemptions, with the additions and modifications, will be continued for a further period from the midnight of November 24 up to and inclusive of December 15.

From now on payment of fees up to Rs 2,000 per student has been allowed in schools and colleges run by central and states governments, municipalities and local bodies.

First Published: Nov 25, 2016 10:46 IST