AGENCY
Agra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the public’s sacrifices in the wake of the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes wouldn’t go in vain, and that everything would be normal after “the period of 50 days” between November 8 and December 30.
“This decision (demonetisation) was not taken to trouble anyone. This decision was taken to safeguard the future of our youth,” the PM at a public gathering in Agra, after launching the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a housing scheme for the poor.
“The initiative of demonetization was highly appreciated by poor people. Despite facing difficulties, they supported us,” he added.
The PM explained that poor and middle-class people were honest and didn’t have black money, and that his government’s efforts would help them. While some people had been inconvenienced by demonetisation, many others’ (those possessing unaccounted wealth) lives had been ruined by the move, he said.
It had also “adversely affected” those involved in fake currency rackets and narcotics, he added.
Modi said political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams are attacking him as they have been hit hard by demonetisation, in remarks seen as sharp attack on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
He also hit out at the Congress saying governments in the past 70 years kept quiet on blackmoney because they were worried about losing power.
“I know what sort of people are raising their voice against me? Does the country not know whose money was invested in chit fund business? Lakhs and crores of poor people invested money in chit funds. But with the blessings of politicians, crores and crores of rupees have vanished.
“Due to chit fund loss, hundreds of head of families were forced to commit suicide. Look at history and they are questioning me,” he said in barbs aimed apparently at Banerjee, who had been rallying political leaders against the demonetisation decision. However, the Prime Minister did not name any leaders.
Some Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have been arraigned before courts in cases relating to chit fund scams in West Bengal.
