New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) In a sharp attack on the BJP and the NDA Government on its celebrating first anniversary of demonetisation as 'anti-Black Money day', the Congress on Wednesday said those looting the country were celebrating the loot gathered from the people and questioned the purpose of the whole note ban exercise.
It demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should apologise to the country for causing the huge pain to the common man through the twin bolts of demonetisation and GST.
Addressing a joint press conference with AICC spokespersons Sushmita Dev, Jaiveer Shergill and Amarinder Raja, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said,'one year has passed since the 'unilateral decision' taken by this Government. Even today the people of the country are nursing their wounds. However, the people who destroyed the economy and caused huge job losses due to their move to demonetise currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 are indulging in celebrations. While those who looted the country are celebrating the loot, the common man is bemoaning the loss of his jobs and livelihood. One year after demonetisaiton, it needs to be asked from this Government as to what purpose has the whole exercise served.'
Questioning the claims of the governments that the demonetisation was aimed at tackling black money, fake currency, terrorism and naxal violence, Mr Surjewala said, 'First they told the people that they would bring back Black money. Then they said the exercise was aimed at tackling fake currency. They they said it would help control terrorism and Naxalism. Were any of these objectives met? If not, what was the purpose of bringing demonetisation?'
Mr Surjewala said while the demonetisation caused an over Rs 3 lakh crore loss to the economy, the GDP came down by two per cent. Further there was a loss of 15 lakh jobs in the organised sector and 3.72 crore in the unorganised sector.
'Nearly 150 people lost their lives in the queues in banks and ATMS for cash. The autonomy of the Reserve bank of India (RBI) was shattered,' Mr Surjewala said.
He said while the common man suffered due to demonetisation, no action has been taken by the Government on the alleged land scam by the BJP leaders and deposit of lakhs of crores of cash by them prior to November 8.
'Just before demonetisation, Rs 5,88,600 lakh crore was deposited in banks. Whose money was it and from where did it come is something that nobody knows till date. Also, decision of Rs three crore in a Kolkata bank in Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 7 and 8, 2016 shows that the BJP was aware of the decision to demonetize currency.
Further, just before November 8, eight properties were purchased in several places in Bihar by the BJP. Will the BJP tell the country how many crores worth of property was bought by the its leaders prior to demonetisation? It is clear now that while the common man suffered, the thieves turned their black money into white. In fact, demonetisation was another name for the scheme to convert black money into white,' Mr Surjewala said.
Charging the NDA Government with resorting to 'jumlas' to divert the attention of people from the adverse impact of demonetisation and GST, Mr Surjewala said, 'Every expert worth his salt has admitted that the double whammy of demonetisation and the GST has caused a 'surgical strike' on the common man. It has brought business activity to a grinding halt and led to huge job losses.
Mr Modi and Mr Jaitley should apologise to the country for the pain cause to the common man through demonetisation and the faulty implementation of the GST.'
The Congress is observing the first anniversary of demonetisation as a 'Black Day'.
UNI AR PY SW 1737