The Congress president, while addressing a press conference, termed the 2016 demonetization as “country's biggest scam” and alleged that it was a "well-intended" move to help 15-20 "crony capitalists" of the country.
“The sole aim of the demonetization exercise was to favour the 15-20 crony capitalists friends of PM Modi and help them to convert their black money into white,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Modi, Gandhi said he (PM Modi) rightly claims that what he achieved was not done in 70 years. Demonetization is proof of that as it was aimed at helping only the rich, he added.
Demonetization destroyed the economy and led to unemployment, the Congress leader said, adding that he should provide youngsters in the country with some answers.
The Congress chief also attacked PM Modi on the Rafale defence deal alleging that the deal was signed to help Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani.
Rahul, who had on Wednesday challenged the government for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale defence deal, countered finance minister Arun Jaitley’s attack and posed a set of three questions to him.
"I am ready to answer all your question but you should answer my questions as well,” he said.
"Anil Ambani never made an aircraft. He is under a debt of Rs 45,000 crore and had opened a company just a few days before Rafale deal. HAL (Hindustan Aeronautical Limited) has been making aircraft for past 70 years," he said.
There are clear facts in Rafale case. Anil Ambani has ₹45000Cr debt. He formed the company 10 days before the deal.… https://t.co/eRnBbslH7G
— Congress (@INCIndia) 1535631216000
The Congress leader further claimed that the negotiated price of the Rafale fighter jet was way higher than the one negotiated earlier. “Why was an aircraft that was for Rs 520 crore was bought for Rs 1,600 crore," he asked.
Rahul also produced excerpts from an India-France joint statement released during PM Modi’s visit to France when he had signed the defence deal. "India-France joint statement clearly states that the 36 aircraft in question will be of the same configuration," he said.
"Now the PM says that the configuration is different. I want to know if it was the Prime Minister who had made the earlier statement, or someone else," he added.
The finance minister was quick to respond to Congress chief's allegations - "Rahul Gandhi has not read my question- The fully weaponised Rafale aircraft’s 2016 price is 20% cheaper than the 2007 offer. This is what the 2015 statement of the PM and the French President refers to as 'on terms better than the 2007 offers'," he tweeted.
Continuing his attack on the “failure” of the demonetization exercise to achieve the results claimed by the PM, he said that it was not a mistake but an “intentional move” to target the people of the country.
“During UPA regime, NPAs were Rs 2.5 lakh crore. It has now jumped to Rs 12.5 lakh crore,” he said while listing the negative effects of demonetization on the economy.
"Prime Minister Modi should answer why he inflicted a deep wound like demonetization when issues like unemployment and low GDP rate remained," Gandhi said while referring to the RBI's report on the outcome of the demonetization exercise.
Yesterday, an RBI report had said that over 99 per cent of the banned currency is back in banks.
On November 8, 2016, PM Modi had announced the demonetization of high-value currency notes. Of the Rs 15.41 lakh crore worth Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in circulation on November 8, 2016, notes worth Rs 15.31 lakh crore have been returned to the banks.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2POH06P
