Congress claims Rs 2,000 note ban has a connection with PM Modi’s Japan visit

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 20, 2023: The withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes by the RBI, has been drawing a lot of criticism from opposition leaders. On Saturday (May 20), Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the move.

 

Drawing a peculiar connection with RBI’s announcement, Kharge said whenever PM Modi goes to Japan, there is a "note bandi" notification. He was referring to the 2016 demonitisation, in which notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations were discontinued from use overnight.

"When he went to Japan last time he had made a Rs 1,000 note bandi. This time when he has gone he has done Rs 2,000 note bandi," Kharge said, in a jibe at the premier.

PM Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday (May 19) to attend the G7 summit. This is the first leg of his three-nation tour that will also take him to Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Earlier, Kharge had termed the move as "second demonitisation". "Is this a veil over a wrong decision? Only an unbiased investigation will reveal the truth of the exploits," he said in a tweet.

Addressing the gathering after the swearing-in ceremony of Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister and his Cabinet, he said, "He (PM) doesn’t know whether it will benefit the country or cause loss. The ’note bandi’ that Modi has been doing and has done this time too, is troubling the people."

Calling the newly formed Congress government in Karnataka as "a government of love", he assured that all the five promises made to the people ahead of polls would be implemented.

In a surprise move, the RBI on Friday announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation but gave public time till September 30 to either deposit such notes in accounts or exchange them at banks.

Unlike the November 2016 demonetisation, the Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be legal tender till September 30. Echoing Rahul Gandhi’s "hatred" barb at the BJP, Kharge said, "Our government here is a government of love, which will bring everyone together."

Siddaramaiah on Saturday took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka in Bengaluru. With him, several other ministers were inducted into the state cabinet.

Courtesy: India Today