A day after he attacked the Congress saying it put the party first before nation, the Opposition party on Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It asked if it is a coincidence that higher denomination currency notes of both Rs1,000 and Rs2,000 have been introduced during the NDA Governments and asked who is promoting black money. At the same time, it asked Modi to “stop insulting” former heads of Government as Modi referred to a book to say former PM Indira Gandhi paid no heed to the Wanchoo Committee’s recommendation to demonetise high-value currency notes in 1971.
“Is it a coincidence that both Rs1,000 note & Rs2,000 note are the legacy of NDA 1 and NDA 2. So who is promoting black money (sic)IJ” senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said on Twitter. He said Atal Behari Vajpayee was a Cabinet Minister in 1978 when demonetisation was done for the first time since Independence, but when he became the Prime Minister he did not reintroduce the measure because it was not a success.
“I respect Vajpayee ji. He was Cabinet Minister during 1978 demonetisation. Why he did not re-implement it during his govt if it was a successIJ In 1978, Vajpayee ji was part of decision to demonetise Rs1,000, as PM he re-introduced it (the 1,000 rupee notes. Can anyone say he put party interest before nationIJ” he tweeted.
Patel also said, “From Rajendra Babu to Indiraji to Dr (Manmohan) Singh, we have been consistent in opposing note ban. Those in habit of U-turns should read history properly.”
The Congress on its official twitter handle also said, “Rs1,000 note brought by Shri Vajpayee. Rs2,000 note brought by Shri Modi. People will decide which party is helping Black Money hoarders.”
On his part, at the FICCI conference here, Deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said: “Stop insulting former Prime Ministers. Change the narrative and mindset... From Jawaharlal Nehru to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh to Indira Gandhi it is a long list. When you insult them you do not insult Indira and Nehru, you also insult lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai who demonetised high-value currency in 1978.”
“It is sad... 1971 was the year when India gave Indira Gandhi a massive mandate. The same year we were challenged by the then East Pakistan. India had 10 million refugees. Genocide was going on in what is now known as Bangladesh. China, siding with Pakistan, had moved troops to the border. India had the courage and strength to take the decision and the rest is history.”
The country celebrated Vijay Diwas yesterday to mark the win over Pakistan in the 1971 war. “It was a day to salute Indira and not insult her”, he said.
Sharma also took a dig at Modi for calling himself a fakir saying, “I do not have that kind of a wardrobe but I will not call myself a fakir. We are public servants. We must serve people and understand their pain. We must have humility.”