Caught by surprise, netas criticising demonetisation move: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: An aggressive PM Narendra Modi escalated hostilities with the opposition on Friday and said the real angst of those accusing the government of not preparing adequately for the impact of demonetisation was that no one was given the time to prepare for the radical measure.
Speaking at a function here, the PM said, "The criticism is that the government did not prepare fully.But this is not the issue. The pain of such people is that the government did not give anyone the time to prepare."
Modi followed the barb by sarcastically noting that if he had given even 72 hours lead time that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were being scrapped, he would have been hailed. "It would have been said there is no one like Modi," he said.
The PM's remarks prior to his departure for a function in Punjab were enough to provoke an agitated opposition which demanded an apology and protested in both Houses of Parliament where they called for Modi's presence.
Congress later alleged BJP members in Bihar had done land deals worth Rs 3.4 crore and claimed that this was a means of adjusting black money. They also pointed to alleged cash seizures from BJP leaders in other states.
BJP dismissed Congress's allegations saying the purchase in Bihar was for a district party office and payments were made in an above board manner and were accountable. Further, the party said income of political parties did not attract tax and it really did not matter where they deposited money before or after the November 8 demonetisation.
Modi's comments were also read as a response to former PM Manmohan Singh describing demonetisation as "a case of organised loot and legalised plunder" and that it reflected a "monumental management failure". The PM identified demonetisation with the interests of the common man, saying the ordinary citizen was the "soldier" in the country's battle against corruption and black money, noting India's poor standing in global corruption surveys.
Pushing for digital transactions, Modi said, "Everyone has a right to use his or her money and no one stops them. It is not necessary you should have cash as one can spend using digital technology also."
Modi's hard dig at the opposition, suggesting that BJP's political opponents were discomfited by the tough measures against black money, clearly indicates that he is ready to go head to head with rivals over the decision.
The PM's stance seems to draw on BJP's assessment that the decision has strong popular backing and the crisis caused by the sudden evacuation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes is abating. The lack of a popular outbreak against the decision despite long queues and disruption of daily cash flows has encouraged the BJP leadership.
But the PM's remarks were sufficient to keep the demonetisation pot bubbling as the opposition gears up for its nationwide protest on November 28. The parties are mostly focussing on hardships caused due to demonetisation. Congress has claimed that BJP was tipped off about the impending decision and had managed its cash.
Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP chief Arvind Kejirwal have called for a rollback of the decision.