Demonetisaton: Criticise me, but also inform masses about mobile banking, PM Narendra Modi tells Opposition

Banaskantha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the demonetisation decision was taken to strengthen the hands of the poor of the nation.

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Deesa, the Prime Minister said, before November 8 everybody was concerned only about Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and no body used to care about the small denomination notes.

PM Modi claimed demonetisation decision has helped in tackling the menace of black money, corruption and counterfeit currency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top leader further claimed that the countrymen who had joined the Maoists movement are surrendering.

With government's decision on banning high denomination currency notes, we have been successful in weakening the hands of terrorists and also those in fake currency rackets,” the PM said.

Taking pot shots at the Opposition for continuously disrupting Parliament session over demonetisation, PM Modi said, “The Parliament is not being allowed to function; even President Pranab Mukherjee who has tremendous political experience, has expressed his anguish over repeated disruptions.”

“Government has always said we are ready to debate. I am not being allowed to speak in Lok Sabha so I am speaking in the Jan Sabha,” the PM asserted.

“From the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel I want to share something with my friends in the Opposition. During elections we indulge in a lot of heated debates, but we all call for increased voter turnout. Likewise you can oppose me, but do teach people about banking, using technology for financial transactions,” the PM said.

The PM appreciated and thanked people for supporting the demonetisation move.

He reassured the nation that situation will normalise in 50 says and urged the people to back him in this bold move saying, "This is a major step to rid the nation from corruption.”

He appealed to the people to get adopt digital mode to do payments.

“India wants to progress. Corruption and black money is slowing our progress and adversely affecting the poor. These evils have to end,” the PM exhorted, adding, “The games of looting the poor and exploiting the middle classes will now be history.”