Note ban: Rahul Gandhi to address 2 public meetings in UP this month

Lucknow: As the Winter Session of Parliament comes to a close, Congress on Wednesday announced its decision to take the fight over demonetisation to the people with its Vice President Rahul Gandhi scheduled to address two public meetings in Uttar Pradesh later this month.

Rahul's proposed public meeting in poll-bound UP will be held days after the Congress leader claimed there will be an "earthquake" if he is allowed to speak on demonetisation in Lok Sabha.

"Congress will take the fight among the people in a big way against demonetisation and in this connection Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings in Jaunpur on December 19 and in Bahraich on December 22," media incharge of the party Satyadev Tripathi said in Lucknow.

This will be Rahul's second visit to the poll-bound state in the span of a week after the Congress leader addressed a gathering at a wholesale market in Dadri in Gautam Buddha

Nagar district, sharpening his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on note ban decision.

Rahul has alleged that the NDA government has "blocked" the money of the poor through currency ban to favour a "handful of industrialists".

"The Prime Minister has brought honest people on the streets while the rich and the corrupt are taking money through the back door of banks. It was done to ensure that the poor deposit their money in the banks, which will be used to repay the debt of around Rs 8 lakh crore owed by these industrialists to the banks," he had said.

Apprehending that the measure will "injure" the country, Rahul on Wednesday upped the ante further over cash ban, sensationally alleging that he had information about "personal corruption" involving Modi.

He claimed he has detailed information about alleged "personal corruption" by the prime minister and that the latter is personally terrified of him being allowed to speak inside Lok Sabha.

Rahul had earlier said there will be an "earthquake" if he is allowed to speak on demonetisation in Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, an important meeting of the youth wing of the party was held at the party headquarters here today to make preparations for these public meetings of the Congress vice president successful.

Addressing workers, General Secretary incharge of All India Youth Congress Sriniwas BV said that all including youths have been forced to bear immense hardships because of demonetisation.

He said Rahul has initiated a country wide campaign against this scheme and exhorted Congressmen to make the meetings a success.