Demonetisation is a massive scam, says Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday called the demonetisation as a massive scam and asked the BJP-led central government what would it do to reduce the inconvenience caused to the common people. He also alleged that the decision was a knee-jerk move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was doubtful on whether finance minister Arun Jaitley was aware of the same.

Referring to various posts on the internet, Gandhi alleged that several high and mighty people already knew about the decision. He pointed out that the West Bengal unit of the BJP had deposited large sums just before the decision was announced. “There were pictures of some BJP workers showing new currency of Rs 2,000 on internet. There needs to be an inquiry into it,”he said.

“I spoke to (former prime minister) Manmohan Singh and other economists. They said there is no economic rationale behind the move. The big people with black money are let scot free while the common man is suffering. Mallya and Lalit Modi are sitting abroad,” said Gandhi. “Are you seeing any black-money players like builders standing in the queue. It is only the common man and poor farmers who are there..the entire issue is handled without any planning,” rued Gandhi. “There will be consequences of this decision which may hurt everybody,”he said.

Gandhi questioned the logic of issuing Rs2,000 currency notes. “You have cancelled Rs1,000 notes saying it encourages black money and at the same time introduced Rs 2000 currency.”.

Gandhi reached Mumbai in the evening to attend proceedings of a court in Bhiwandi in connection with a private complaint filed in 2014 by a RSS worker Rajesh Kunte who alleged that Rahul Gandhi had defamed the Rashtriya Swayamseval Sangh (RSS) by linking it to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.

First Published: Nov 16, 2016 00:55 IST