Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “absence” in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament and “speaking outside,” Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday dared him to participate in the debate on demonetisation as his party accused that “leakage” of information on demonetisation had helped BJP leaders buy property by converting “their black money” in time.
The Congress also released a list of some BJP leaders who allegedly bought eight land parcels worth `3.41 crore in Bihar in the run up to the November 8 demonetisation announcement.
Rahul tod the mediapersons on Parliament premises that the Prime Minister had “laughed” at the misery of people post demonetisation (during his visit to Japan earlier this month) and become emotional while speaking on the issue.
“let’s see what emotions appear on his face when he comes to the lok Sabha,” Gandhi said.
“The main issue is that the Prime Minister doesn’t come to the lok Sabha for discussion. The moment, he comes to the lok Sabha, doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jayega (everything will be clear). The Prime Minister doesn’t want to sit in the lok Sabha. We have been stopped from speaking in the lok Sabha. What are you scared ofIJ” Rahul asked.
In a swipe at the Prime Minister, the Congress leader said the Prime Minister can address “pop concerts” but doesn’t attend discussion on demonetisation in House.
Rahul claimed that the moment discussion takes place in the lok Sabha in the presence of Modi, it will become clear who the PM had allegedly told about in advance about the November 8 move. Gandhi maintained that the BJP leaders were aware of the move.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma also demanded that “Prime Minister has to come (to the House). He has to explain. Accountability has to be fixed... For the chaos and the financial anarchy. The Prime Minister is also answerable and so is the RBI Governor,” Sharma said.
Stressing that the demonetisation move is an “undeclared financial emergency”, Sharma said the Government needs to explain under which law it has put a curb on the withdrawal of “people’s own hard earned money”.
launching a fresh attack on Modi, Congress party said leakage of demonetisation decision had helped BJP leaders buy property by converting their black money through various means a few months before it was announced.
leader of Congress in lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Prime Minister of “selective leakage” of demonetisation move to his own partymen, who converted their black money through property and other avenues. “This shows who are the real supporters of black money,” he told reporters outside Parliament House. Kharge said democracy functions through discussion and asked the Prime Minister to participate in the debate in Parliament on the issue if he believed in democratic values.
CPI termed as “provocative” Modi’s remarks that those who didn’t get time to “make preparations” were pained by demonetisation and said he is a Prime Minister and “not just RSS pracharak” to have spoken like that. His statement was provocative,” CPI national secretary D Raja said. Raja also reiterated the Opposition’s demand the Prime Minister take part in debate over demonetisation inside Parliament.