Cash crunch: Rahul says terror of demonetisation is back
Amethi, April 17: 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 Prime Minister Narendra 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 two-day 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.
"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.
He also targeted the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state, saying there had been no development in the past one year.
Accusing the Prime Minister of inciting passions on lines of community and religion, Gandhi said the Congress was fighting a battle of ideology with the BJP and would win.
Pointing out how the Union government had waived off loans worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore of the rich and elite, he sought similar debt waiver for farmers.
He said he had once made such a request to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley but was told there was no such provision.
Gandhi also questioned the track record of the Modi government in providing jobs to the unemployed youth.
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Opposition will question govt at all-party meet about Trump's claims on brokering ceasefire: Kharge
Kalaburagi (PTI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the opposition will question the government at the all-party meeting, regarding US President Donald Trump's claims that his administration helped broker a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan.
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said he will urge the government to call an all-party meeting soon, to discuss the latest developments in border tension between India and Pakistan, including "ceasefire".
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Trump is saying things to claim credit. These people (PM and central government) are saying no. It is a sensitive matter. When an all-party meeting is called, we will discuss — what’s the matter, what happened and what were the telephone talks— and ask all these things”.
In response to a question whether PM Modi gave in to Trump's mediation, he said "It won’t be right for me to speak about it now. We have our party meeting today. I’m going for that. I will ask (centre) to call an all-party meeting, let’s see what they will do."
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the military conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Indian government sources have been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions, and no third party was involved.
There was no reference to trade in talks between top leaders of India and the US during the India-Pakistan military conflict, government sources said on Monday after American President Donald Trump claimed that he pressured New Delhi and Islamabad to stop hostilities by threatening to cut trade with both countries.
The source-based clarification came after Trump on Monday said he forced the two countries to stop the hostilities by using the trade card.
Kharge and his party have already demanded that the central government convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and the latest developments in cross-border firing, including the recently announced "ceasefire".
