PM Modi defends note ban, attacks critics; Congress hits back

Addressing criticism over demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted in Lok Sabha that the timing of the decision announced on November 8 last year was perfect as the economy was doing well and hit out at Congress, whose record he questioned. The PM spoke while replying to a debate on Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, which was adopted by the House later amid a walkout by Congress MPs.

"Some people have said why was this (demonetisation) decision taken when the economy was doing well...It was the best time for demonetisation as the economy was strong. Had the economy been weak, then we could not have done it successfully," said the PM. Citing the example of a patient who has to undergo a surgery, Modi said "Before subjecting a patient to surgery, a doctor checks all the parameters of the patient and only when those parameters are fine, is the operation done," he said.

Acknowledging that demonetisation had brought "difficulties" to the people, the Prime Minister said, however, that the decision was not taken for any political mileage but for the benefit of the poor. He said he was aware that there would be some problems for 15-20 days and things would move towards normalcy in 50 days. "Today I can see that whatever I had analysed, we are moving in that direction," he claimed.

Hitting out at Congress for raising the issue of change of rules 150 times on demonetisation, Modi said said it was done to find ways to ease problems of people, and that the previous UPA government had changed rules regarding MGNREGA 1,035 times during its implementation over six years.

The Prime Minister said the first thing that his government did after assuming office in May 2014 was to form a SIT on black money. He said the Real Estate bill was passed, considering the fact that much of black money is parked in this sector. Attacking previous Congress governments, the PM said "Tell us, in 1988, when Rajiv Gandhi was PM, who had got a bigger mandate than even Nehru. From Panchayat to Parliament, everything was under your control....The Benami Law was enacted in 1988 but it was never notified... What is the reason that for 26 years, the law was not notified?"

Modi said the Indira Gandhi government has also failed to tackle black money. "This is not a new issue. This issue had come up earlier also. Yashwantrao Chavan (then minister) had approached Indira Gandhi (with a proposal to eradicate black money). But she told him 'don't you have to contest elections'? You were scared of elections. But we are not worried about elections," the Prime Minister said, adding "No one can deny that cash has become an integral part of our lifestyle. But unless you inflict a deep injury, you cannot come out from that situation," he said.

Early on his speech, the PM made a reference to the earthquake in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand on Monday, saying “Aakhir bhukamp aaya kyun, jab koi SCAM mein bhi seva, namrata ka bhaav dekhta hai to dharti maa bhi dukhi ho jaati hai aur bhukamp aata hai” (Why did the earth quake? Because when some people see service in SCAM then the earth is bound to react in distress).

CONGRESS HITS BACK

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi slammed the Prime Minister for mocking “the tragedy of Uttarakhand”.

Harish Rawat, the Congress Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, said that the PM should be ashamed for making light of the Uttarakhand earthquake.

Congress MP Veerappa Moily told ANI News the PM’s reply was “Very revengeful, quite an arrogant reply, he could have use this opportunity to present vision for country.” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said good days won’t come by giving good speeches, but through hard work.

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in his reply in Parliament said that the 125 people died post-demonetisation and that PM Modi should have at least apologised.