Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an appeal to the people to cooperate with him for 50 days in implementing demonetisation process, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday hit back at the PM and said "will aam aadmi continue to suffer till then".
Kejriwal said the PM's statement is mocking the people who have been standing in queues outside banks and ATMs to get cash. According to Kejriwal, he received a lot of calls and there is a sense of panic among people after the PM's speech in Goa.
"I urge the Prime Minister to take back his decision" of November 8 to demonetise `500 and `1,000 notes as it has created huge problems for the ordinary people, an aggressive Kejriwal told the media.
Asking the PM to stop "natakbazi" (drama), Kejriwal told Modi to first jail "his friends" who hold illegal accounts in Swiss banks.
Kejriwal warned that if the massive cash crunch across the country continued, it could lead to law and order issues and spiral out of control.
"Does this mean that the markets will remain closed for the next 50 daysIJ How can farmers surviveIJ Will people keep standing in queues for 50 daysIJ He is only giving an emotional speech. People expect you to take action against them. Once you jail the corrupt, corruption will automatically end.
"But first roll back this decision. Give up your pride. You can re-introduce the scheme later," he said.
Kejriwal said even Modi admitted in his Goa speech that only a few lakh people were dishonest. Then why was the entire country being punished, he asked.
He warned that the country's economy was sliding because of the crisis, as evident from the serpentine queues outside all banks and ATMs across the country and the way business had been impacted everywhere.
"If law and order problems crop up, it will become difficult to control the situation, Modiji," he said.
Calling the demonetisation a "very poorly implemented scheme", said Kejriwal, adding, "Ever since this order has come, there is panic in every household."
"I felt sad when I heard the kind of language used by the PM against people who are standing in queues. He has mocked the aam aadmi and must apologise immediately," said Kejriwal.