Criminals encouraged, honest Indians suffer under Modi: Congress

New Delhi: Congress on Saturday termed as "shocking and shameful" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to Jan Dhan account holders to usurp the black money deposited in their accounts, saying he was encouraging criminals to prosper while honest Indians suffer.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "PM Modi's call today in a public rally to those misusing Jan Dhan accounts to usurp black money is shocking and shameful and is nothing short of the Prime Minister encouraging criminals to prosper as honest Indians suffer."

He said, "The Prime Minister exhorts those misusing Jan Dhan accounts to usurp money. Honest account holders are penniless, criminals prosper, honest suffer under Modi."

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also took a dig at Modi saying, "A prisoner of his own image!", after the Prime Minister said the corrupt are now calling his name all the time.

"Earlier people would say 'money, money, money', now they say 'Modi, Modi, Modi' all day," the Prime Minister had said at a public rally in Moradabad earlier in the day.

"All those who are Jan Dhan account holders, you should not return the money that others have put in your accounts. If you promise to do so, I am working hard on to devise a formula to send all those who deposited their money illegally into your accounts to jail and to ensure the money goes to the poor households," Modi said.

Surjewala said prior to November 8 demonetisation announcement, 76 per cent of 22.5 crore Jan Dhan accounts had less than Rs five but overnight in last 25 days, Rs 75,000 crore were deposited in these accounts.

"The truth is that 26 per cent of the Jan Dhan accounts still have under Rs five. Tragically instead of acting against those who are converting black money, Modi is promoting illegal criminal activities. Bank accounts of 26 per cent honest Jan Dhan account holders are empty.

"130 crore Indians are awaiting deposit of Rs 15 lakh in their accounts. Modi is shoddily covering up his abject failure to bring back Rs 80 lakh crore of black money stashed abroad and sharing it with ordinary people by diversionary tactics of multiple 'fair and lovely schemes' to convert black money and a series of 'Jumlas'," he said.

The Congress leader said, the PM needs to understand that "India can't be run by 'headlines management' nor is governance an 'event management'".

"Time to deliver, PM Modi, for patience of India is running out with everyday theatrics," he said.