The Congress has alleged that the entire demontisation move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October was to hoodwink his own misdeeds and corruption. The party at the same time linked the Winter Session washout to this only.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, AICC spokesperson Shakil Ahmed charged that the Prime Minister had direct links with alleged pay-offs mentioned in Sahara and Birla group logbooks.
“The Income Tax Department has in its possession for last two years all the documents seized on the premises of Sahara and Birla where amounts in crores paid to then Gujarat CM alongwith date are mentioned. No action on that has been taken so far. The note ban decision has been taken out of his personal needs and to divert attention of the people from the charges,” said Ahmed.
He also circulated papers that reportedly were recovered from the offices in 2013 in support of his charges and also demanded a probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The leader explained that any probe by the investigating agency was not possible considering the stature of the Prime Minister and technicalities involved.
When asked that the said list also names several other leaders including then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Shakil Ahmed said that the Congress leader had demanded a fair probe and the BJP should also follow the suit. He also linked recent pandemonium in Parliament with the matter.
“Never in the history of independent India, we have seen such a washout of a Parliament Session. It was not because of the Opposition. We conceded and even agreed for a debate on demonetisation under any rule. But the ruling members on the PM’s incitements disrupted the proceedings. This is because the PM did not want any debate to take place on note ban that would have exposed him,” added Ahmed.
However, when he was reminded about the Supreme Court disallowing a probe demanded based on these papers, he said that it was more about perception and not about technicalities involved. He explained the reason behind Congress not initiating the probe then stating that the party did not believe in political witch hunting and the agencies need not to report the Government under the UPA.
The AICC member also snubbed the note ban terming it disastrous for the economy. “We are getting reports about unemployment grown and businesses getting spoiled. We have heard about the ‘Robinhood’ who would loot rich and help poor. But this is a role reversal in the case of Narendra Modi who is looting poor for some of his wealthy friends,” he added.
Demanding a white paper on the note ban stating about its benefits and side-effects, the leader also claimed that the BJP and its leaders had got benefitted about it immensely.
