Narendra Modi flays Opposition, defends note ban
I'm not allowed to address Lok Sabha, so I'm speaking in jan sabha, says Modi
![Prime Minister Narendra Modi being gifted a copy of the Bhagwat Geeta at the launch of a cheese plant and Desi A2 Milk plant in Deesa. (Photo: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi being gifted a copy of the Bhagwat Geeta at the launch of a cheese plant and Desi A2 Milk plant in Deesa. (Photo: PTI)](https://s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/images.asianage.com/images/aa-Cover-5hngn4cdqhsq82sipi6rsmdmg1-20161211003922.Medi.jpeg)
New Delhi: With Parliament’s winter session set to end in a complete washout amid charges and counter-charges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Opposition and sought to deflate its allegation that he was running away from a debate on demonetisation in the House.
“Since I am not being allowed to speak in Lok Sabha, I have decided to speak in Jan Sabha,” the PM said, addressing a farmers’ rally in Gujarat’s Banaskantha where he once again defended his move to recall two high-value banknotes as part of his efforts to flush out black money and counterfeit currency from the economy.
“The government has always said we are ready to debate, but Parliament is not being allowed to function. What is happening in Parliament has even anguished our President, who has tremendous political experience,” Mr Modi said.
His combative stance was being viewed as a move to show that he was ready to speak but the Opposition thwarted his desire to address the House on demonetisation that has led to a crippling cash crunch in the country. With the winter session ending on December 16, it is now unlikely that Mr Modi will speak in Parliament on the issue.
The BJP’s strategists had felt the need for a categorical reply to the Opposition charge that the PM was not willing to answer their queries and charges on demonetisation in
Parliament. Party leaders felt that since Mr Modi was the main target he needed to clarify his position among the people of the country.
The Opposition was prompt to hit back. Congress leader Anand Sharma claimed that his party always wanted a debate. He said, “We don’t want the PM to come and give a speech and leave, we want him to answer our questions.” As the PM spoke of the benefits of demonetisation, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “PM can only give bhashan (speech), no solution.”
Trying to justify his decision to ban Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, Mr Modi talked of the “empowerment” of Rs 100 notes which eventually “empowered the poor.” The PM known for his “Modinomics” argued, “What was the value of the Rs 100 note before November 8? What was the value of the Rs 50 note? Nobody cared about them. I have taken the step of demonetisation to strengthen the poor of this country.”
The Prime Minister then launched into his rhetoric over cashless economy and use of technology. He told the farmers of Gujarat that besides criticising him, the Opposition should also inform the people that “they do not need to stand in queues and can use mobile banking.”
Seeking support from the people for his demonetisation move, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to “assure the people that no one will be spared” and that he was standing “by the side of honest people who have been instigated against me.”
He claimed that “for 70 years the honest people of this country have been harassed by the government.” Mr Modi assured that “games of looting the poor and exploiting the middle classes will now be history.” He claimed that his demonetisation move has “broken the back of terrorists and naxals.”