Whenever PM Modi goes to Japan, there’s currency ban in India: Mallikarjun Kharge
Bengaluru, May 20: AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the RBI's announcement on the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation, terming it as another "note bandi" to trouble the people.
Calling the newly formed Congress government in Karnataka as "a government of love", he assured that all the five promises made to the people ahead of polls will be implemented.
"Modi has issued another new order. Whenever he goes to Japan, he will issue a 'note bandi' notification and go. When he went to Japan last time he had done a Rs 1,000 note bandi. This time when he has gone he has done Rs 2,000 note bandi," Kharge said, in a jibe at the Prime Minister.
Addressing the gathering after the swearing-in ceremony of Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister and his Cabinet, he said, "He (PM) doesn't know whether it will benefit the country or cause loss. The 'note bandi' that Modi has been doing and has done this time too, he is troubling the people."
ALSO READ: Congress approves five guarantees poll promises at first cabinet meeting
In a surprise move, the Reserve Bank on Friday announced withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation but gave public time till September 30 to either deposit such notes in accounts or exchange them at banks.
Unlike the November 2016 shock demonetisation when old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were invalidated overnight, the Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be a legal tender till September 30.
Echoing Rahul Gandhi's "hatred" barb at the BJP, Kharge said, "Our government here is a government of love, which will take everyone together."
Reiterating that in the first cabinet meeting the new government will implement the five guarantees for the people, he said, along with that "we will fulfill all the promises we have made".
"We will not say something and do something as BJP did, we will walk the talk. We will implement all the five promises," he assured.
The Congress has promised to implement the guarantees' 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti), on the very first day of assuming power in the state.
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Rahul Gandhi alleges PM Modi wants LDF to win Assembly elections in Kerala
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the ruling LDF to win the Assembly elections in Kerala.
Addressing an election rally here, Gandhi reiterated his charge that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is fighting the combined forces of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP.
Two former CPI(M) leaders — V Kunhikrishnan and T K Govindan — who are contesting as independents with the support of the UDF, were also present on the stage.
“This election is a fight between two ideologies — that of the Left Front led by CPI(M) and that of the UDF. For the first time, we are seeing a partnership between the BJP and the Left Front,” he said.
He said that it is quite surprising that a Left party is aligning with an extreme Right party, because they have diametrically opposite ideologies.
“So the question is, how is it possible that a Left party combines with a Right party? This is like a puzzle,” Gandhi said.
“Some answers to the puzzle are sitting on the stage. There are two veteran leaders from CPI(M) here today. Why are they sitting on our stage and not campaigning for CPI(M) and the chief minister?” he asked.
Gandhi alleged that what is today called the Left Front is no longer a Left or even a centrist formation.
“In fact, they are partnering with the BJP because they are corporate parties. They are no longer parties of the people. The proof is sitting on the stage now. People with Left-minded thinking are with the Congress, and the party is supporting them,” he said.
Questioning the BJP’s stand in Kerala, Gandhi said that while the prime minister speaks about religion, temples and God elsewhere, he does not raise the Sabarimala gold loss issue in the state.
He alleged that CPI(M) leaders were involved in the gold loss at Sabarimala and accused the BJP of remaining silent on the issue.
“The so-called defender of Hinduism does not speak about Sabarimala when he comes to Kerala. He wants the Left Front to win the election in the state,” Gandhi said.
He further said that Left leaders contesting elections as independents with the support of the UDF show that the CPI(M) is no longer a true Left party.
