Opposition parties should have welcomed demonetisation: Amit Shah

Dehradun: Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for demonetising high value notes, BJP president Amit Shah today described it as a major blow to hoarders of black money and wondered why the Congress, SP, BSP and AAP were crying over a move they should have welcomed.

“Demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupees currency notes is a courageous and historic step taken by Narendra Modi government. With one stroke of a pen Modiji has destroyed black money worth lakhs and crores of rupees being used to fund terrorist activities. Those sitting over heaps of black money have been made destitute with just one stroke of a pen.

“Tell me shouldn’t all political parties hail this step? But how will they? They are also in trouble. All they hoarded over the years has been destroyed too,” Shah said while addressing a rally before flagging off the party’s Parivartan Yatra in Uttarakhand.

He said people understand very well why there is commotion in the Congress, BSP, SP and AAP ranks in the wake of the Centre’s crackdown on black money.

“I want to ask these parties where exactly does it hurt them? Why are you so agitated Rahulji? What is amiss? People know everything,” he said.

Advising Rahul Gandhi to stop projecting himself as a sympathiser of the crowds queueing up outside banks following the Centre’s demonetisation move, Shah said the Congress vice president should not to try to mislead the people.

“Rahul Gandhi went in a car worth Rs 4 crore to exchange Rs four thousand in a bank a couple of days back. Who were you trying to fool Rahul ji? You should at least have taken a cheaper vehicle for the purpose,” he said.

Stating that each BJP worker stood in sympathy with the people inconvenienced by the demonetisation move, Shah appealed to them to see the larger picture and swallow the bitter pill in national interest as it was a big blow to black marketeers and hawala operators.

Mulayam, Mayawati have lost sleep after demonetisation: Shah

Kannauj (UP):BJP president Amit Shah today said that the Centre’s much-talked about demonetisation move has taken away the gleam from the faces of BSP chief Mayawati and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, even as crores of rupees of black marketeers have turned into waste.

“Lakhs of crores of rupees of black marketeers have turned into waste after demonetisation. It has also taken away the gleam from the faces of Mayawati and Mulayam,” he said.

Addressing BJP’s ‘parivartan yatra’ in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Shah said those who lost their black money were upset by the move.

“Even Mulayam and Mayawati have lost their sleep after demonetisation,” he said.

Shah, who was speaking at the Lok Sabha constituency of Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, also tried to strike an emotional chord with people standing in serpentine queues to withdraw or deposit money.

“I know you are facing problems as you have to stand for hours, but good is going to happen. What do you prefer–black money or country…?” he said.

In a surprise move, the Centre had on November 8 banned the high-denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as part of its crackdown on black money.

The BJP leader also hit out at the “theatrics” of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for reaching an ATM in Delhi to withdraw Rs 4,000 in a car worth Rs 4 crore.

“Congress has ruled the country for years. In that regime scams involving Rs 12 lakh crores were done…You should stop doing theatrics and befooling people,” he said.

Shah also slammed Gandhi for criticising the government over the recent PoK strikes by the Army.

“For soldiers you use words like ‘khoon ki dalali’,” he said.

“Contrary to Congress regime, now we give reply of ‘goli’ (bullet) with ‘gola’ (bomb) and our soldiers have stormed their territory and returned after attacking them,” he said amid applause from the crowd.

The crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are slated for next year.

PTI