Thursday 25 / April / 2024
Agra: In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his demonetisation decision had severly hit the parties whose leaders seek money in lieu of tickets for contesting Assembly polls, in a veiled attack on BSP chief Mayawati who has been facing such allegations.
Addressing a rally here, he said the decision to scrap notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 denomination was not intended to cause harassment to the common people but they will have to take the "trouble" for 50 days for ensuring a bright future for the coming generations. He expressed confidence that the objective of ending corruption and black money, which was the reason behind the decision, would be achieved.
"I know some people have lost everything (because of demonetisation). (If) you have to become MLA, bring so many notes, then you will become an MLA. Notes had been stashed. What will happen to these notes? Whom did these notes belong to? Did these not belong to the poor and honest people? This game should come to an end," Modi said here in the poll-bound state.
He did not name anybody but the comments are seen directed at Mayawati who has been accused of taking money in lieu of giving tickets for the upcoming Assembly polls due early next year. Some of Mayawati's former party leaders, like Swami Prasad Maurya, have accused her of "auctioning" tickets for the 2017 Assembly elections.
Maurya made the allegation while announcing his decision to quit Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on June 22. Mayawati has denied such allegations. "This is our effort to ensure that the middle class gets its due, aspirations of the poor are fulfilled and exploitation of the middle class comes to end. This black economy is making the country hollow from within," Modi said.
"I have taken this decision not to cause harassment to anybody. I have taken this decision for the coming generations and change the fate of our youth," the prime minister added.
He said he had stated on the first day of the announcement on November 8 that it will take 50 days for the changeover. "Had I sought 50 days or not? This is such a big country and the decision is so huge that there will be some trouble," he said.
Modi said previous governments did not take any step to check blackmoney as they were worried more about losing power than about the country.
"For how long will the country keep quiet? They (previous governments) kept quiet for 70 years. Not because they were unaware of this disease. They worried less about country and more about power. That's why they were not ready to take any step (to check it)," the prime minister said, in a veiled attack at Congress.
Modi said on the one side cross-border terrorism was killing army personnel and on the other hand economic terrorism was pushing the country's youth and economy towards catastrophe. He said fake currency notes were pushed into the country and because of the demonetisation the business of drugs and other narcotics have come to stand still.
"There is a big jolt to the business of fake Indian currency notes due to demonetisation," the primeminister said. Referring to government's decision of demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, Modi said the decision has not been taken to harass people but to help poor, marginalised and honest people. He cautioned people not to let their Jan Dhan accounts to be misused by corrupt people. "I have come to request you. These corrupt people are very cunning. They may approach you to deposit Rs250,000 in your account. They can ask you to return Rs200,000 after six months and offer you Rs50,000. But please do not let these people take advantage of you. "Law is very tough... the corrupt would say it is not my money and the people in whose accounts the money is deposited will be answerable. Unnecessarily poor will have problem with law. I do not want my brothers and sisters to have any problem," the prime minister said.
There are reports of misuse of zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts by black money hoarders and the Centre is looking into it. It has warned that violators will be prosecuted under the Benami Transactions Act that carries a penalty, prosecution and rigorous jail term of a maximum seven years.
