Belagavi: Sympathising with the common man who has been hard hit by the ban on Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,00 currency notes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed the Congress for spreading the ‘disease of black money’ in the country.
To punish the corrupt and dishonest who have amassed huge black money in the course of 70 years, people will face some problems for 50 days (until December 30). You have given 70 years to the looters (Congress party), I ask only for 70 days to clean up the mess,” the PM said while indirectly targeting AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi at the inauguration of KLE Society's centenary celebrations in Belagavi on Sunday.
“Those who swindled lakhs of crores of rupees by indulging in the Coal and 2G Scams are standing in queues for the sake of a mere Rs 4,000 today. My government is committed to protect honest people and is gearing up to punish the corrupt and dishonest.”
When the PM asked the jam-packed crowd if it was prepared to face the problems related to demonetization to ensure punishment for the corrupt, the 30,000 plus crowd cheered showing its support for him.
“Congress leaders are objecting to the ban today, but I did not ask them anything when they banned 25 paise coins in the past. The Congress did not have the guts to ban bigger currency notes. I had hinted at a public function five years ago that the Congress banned 25 paise coins, but I am going to ban Rs 1000 notes,” he said.
On keeping the ban of currency notes a secret until the last moment, Modi said, he had to do this as the corrupt were too smart and would find ways to ensure they go scot-free. On December 8 when the ban of currency notes was announced, the rich in the country had to run searching for sleeping pills in panic. Unfortunately, they could not find the pills, he sarcastically remarked.
Recalling his statement during a recent Mann Ki Baat, his radio address, the PM said he was keen on creating a ‘cashless society.’ To make it possible, the Centre has waived interest rates on credit and debit cards, he said. “I will make it clear to those protecting the corrupt that Modi will not duck at any cost even after December 30,'' he warned.
