New Delhi: Just ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, Congress party once again attacked the Central Government over demonization, calling it a "scam of plunder" and demanding them a white paper behind the move.
While addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "The economic and political history of India will remember the current government as an autocratic dispensation in the garb of a democratic one. When we talked of disastrous decisions by the Modi government the list will be long, but Demonetisation was a disaster of epic proportions."
He further added, "The Indian Economy is still reeling with the aftershocks of the ill-advised move. Before starting to accomplish a goal, the objective needs to be kept in mind. Unfortunately, the government in its confusion and desperation kept changing goalposts according to the outcome. What started as an exercise cited to curb black money was conveniently touted as an exercise to make India a cashless economy."
On November 8, Demonetization will complete 4 years, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced, in 2016, demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. However, Congress dubbed it a "Tughlaqi decree" and a move of "notebadli" rather than a "notebandi".
The Congress leader stated that out of the 15.44 lakh crore of old currency, Modi Government projected that about 3 to 4 lakh crore is black money and would not come back to the banking system as deposits.
Read: Vaccine row: 'BJP manifesto for Bihar shows its discriminatory nature'
"The decision was taken based on an assumption with no solid reasoning or research. None of the economic experts was consulted for their advice was not adhered to," Gourav Vallabh said.
He also claimed that RBI 'gained' Rs 16000 crores, but 'spent' a total of Rs 25,391 crores in printing/logistics of new notes. According to the RBI report, specified bank notes (SBNs), or notes that were demonetized, 99% has returned to the bank.
He further alleged, "Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCB), whose directors include BJP's Ex-National President and Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah and his close associates received, the highest amount of old demonetised notes, i.e. a whopping Rs 745.58 Crore in just 5 days between November 10, 2016 and November 14, 2016."
Vallabh also mentioned about the issue of Income Tax raid on Vice President of Surat BJP unit by calling it ruling party's move of "Shooting the Messenger", aiming to silence people who question the Government.
"This week, the Vice President of Surat BJP unit and Ex-Income Tax Officer Mr. PVS Sarma has come out with serious allegations of tax evasion in the wake of demonetisation against a prominent Jeweller based out of Surat. The jeweller in a discussion had made sales of Rs 96.3 crores post 8:30 pm on 8th November 2016," he said.
Read: Notice issued to defendants in Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi case
In a series of questions, the Congress leader asked, " Why did the government decide to misuse the machinery to raid the whistleblower instead of instituting an enquiry against the alleged scam? How much black money has the government recovered from such defaulters so far? Why is the government afraid to place the names of entities involved in such scams, details of defaulters and transaction trails?"
Earlier today, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said in a media interaction that she will raise tricolour when the "flag of Jammu and Kashmir" is allowed to be raised too.
When asked about the matter, Gourav Vallabh said, "This question is more linked to BJP because they have ruled a Government with PDP for three and a half years. PM Modi used to call it good governance. So now, PM Modi and BJP President should tell us why Mehbooba Mufti is saying all these things. On behalf of Congress, I can only assure you that we bow our head only for the National flag and we won't tolerate anything against it."
