The measure is ‘anti-poor’: When BJP opposed demonetisation during UPA govt
The BJP had opposed as “anti-poor” a move by the RBI in January 2014 to withdraw currency notes issued before 2005 and said the move will not address the problem of black money.
The BJP had opposed as “anti-poor” a move by the RBI in January 2014 to withdraw currency notes issued before 2005 and said the move will not address the problem of black money.
In power now, the BJP government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes on Tuesday and defended it as a move to deal with illicit wealth. Here is what it said then and now.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi in January 2014
• The idea is unexplainable as to why this has happened… the measure is strongly anti poor.
• The latest gimmick of finance ministry’s demonetization of currency notes before 2005 is basically an attempt to obfuscate the issue of black money that is stashed outside the country.
• The present government is not in a position to measure the correct quantum of black money, because those who have black money will actually convert it into new currency notes.
• The sufferers are the aam aaurat and aadmi; those who are illiterate, who have no access to banking facilities. They will be the ones who will be affected by such diversionary measures.
• People who have small savings and no bank accounts and their life savings will be targeted. The present scheme does nothing to remove black money from circulation.
Watch | Meenakshi Lekhi’s 2014 conference
BJP chief Amit Shah in November 2016
• Zara bhi nahi kiya tha. koi ek jagah pe bata de. Agar congress aise kehti hai to safeed jhoot bolti hai (we did not oppose (demonetization) a bit, tell us any place where we did it. If congress is claiming such, it is saying white lie)
• I can understand that dealers of black money, fake currency, hawala and drug are rattled. But I cannot fathom as to why leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati and Arvind Kejriwal are joining the list of such people.
• The kind of environment these political parties are making I want to ask them if you are in support of black money, hawala operators, terrorism, fake currency dealers...SP, BSP, Arvind Kejriwal and Congress should answer this.
• The demonetisation move will do no harm to the poor. But some political parties have become poor.
• All patriots, the common man, tax payers... have welcomed the move. I want to make it clear that no tax payer needs to worry and the government will protect the interests of the poor, farmers, labourers, small traders.
• With its demonetisation exercise, the government has taken its war against black money to a decisive level.
