Charging the Congress with putting its interests before the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said unlike in the past when the Opposition fought scams in Parliament by stalling it, the Congress-led parties are now opposing the Government’s battle against black money in the country.
As Parliament’s Winter Session concluded with a near washout with demonetisation becoming a central issue, Modi sought to point out that the Congress and other Opposition parties were siding with the “dishonest” and the “corrupt” as was evident with their criticism of anti-black money measures taken recently by his Government.
Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting here, Modi attacked former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had called demonetization “organised plunder and legalised loot”.
Modi quoted his comments made in 1991 to say that he once used “language of threat” against tax evaders but his voice has completely changed now. “WhyIJ Because he is worried about his party, not the country,” Modi said of Singh. He said unlike the Congress, the NDA always kept the country’s interests first.
Referring to the Wanchoo Committee in 1971 recommending demonetisation, he cited a book to say that when then Finance Minister YB Chavan went to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and supported the exercise, she asked,
“Only one question. Are no elections to be fought by the Congress PartyIJ”
Modi also lashed out at the left accusing them of compromising with their ideology, as he quoted comments by late Communist leaders Jyotirmay Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjeet in support of demonetisation, to hit out at them for siding with the Congress.
“In our country, ruckus in Parliament or not letting it function had happened earlier too. It was a little longer this time. But there is an essential difference. Earlier, ruckus and disruptions happened because of massive scams and graft and the Opposition would unite and fight on the principle of honesty.
“This is the first time when the Treasury Benches have taken a step against corruption and many in the Opposition have come together to support the dishonest,” he said.
Modi regretted disruption of the Winter Session of Parliament, saying it would have been good had the Government’s critics shown the strength to start a discussion on merit.
In this regard, the Prime Minister appreciated and expressed gratitude to Odisha and Bihar Chief Ministers Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar for their “open support” to the demonetization decision despite their ideological differences with the BJP.
Terming the withdrawal of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes as an important step in his Government’s fight against black money, Modi said it was just one of the steps and not the final destination.
“If the middle class is to be rid of exploitation and the poor are to be restored their rights then courageous decisions will have to be taken to remove black money and corruption,” he added.
His Government, Modi announced, will take action against benami transactions and then the Congress will again shout that it is a “very hasty” decision.
Portraying the Congress as a votary of corruption, he said it had made a law against benami assets in 1988 but never notified it or framed rules and regulations, ensuring that the legislation never came into force.
With some reports that the hardships faced by the masses in withdrawing money from banks and ATMs have trimmed the early public support for the measure, Modi told party MPs that they have to fight to rid the country of corruption and black money with confidence.
The Prime Minister asked party MPs to popularise the Government’s thrust on digital transactions as a “way of life”, saying those who are aware of the exercise should be made to use it.