Demonetization biggest-ever scam in India: Saikia

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 2: Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA) Debabrata Saikia has termed the demonetization as country’s biggest-ever scam that has been taxing the holders of 94 per cent white money just to unearth only six per cent black money.

Addressing the media at Rajiv Bhawan in the city today, Saikia said: “According to the RBI, the amount of black money in circulation in the country is just six per cent. However, the demonetization has been harassing people who hold 94 per cent (white) money in the country. This is not all. Most of the people who are caught with black money are BJP leaders in various parts of the country, and even Prime Minister rendra rendra Modi’s home State Gujarat is no exception. There has been no probe on the incident of Rs 500 crore having been deposited in Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank, of which BJP president Amit Shah is the Director, on the eve of demonetization. This is not all. Many BJP leaders purchased property before demonetization and deposited cash in various banks. According to a survey, 48 lakh workers lost their jobs in the unorganized sector, and 4 lakh other workers lost job in textile industry. In Gujarat, three lakh jewelry workers, ten lakh construction workers, thousands of jute mill workers had to lose their jobs.”

Saikia said: “The Prime Minister did seek 50 days to normalize the post-demonetization situation. However, the situation is such that till now 50 per cent of the two lakh ATMs in the country run dry. Even many of the ATMS have not been changed for 2000-rupee denomition. What baffles many in the country is as to why the Prime Minister is shying away from facing the Opposition in Parliament on the issue of demonetization by respecting Parliamentary democracy? He, however, opts to address the public. In contrast to this, during the UPA tenure then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did discuss the 2G and 3G scams in Parliament as per the device sought by the Opposition. How come Modi shies away from discussing this issue on the same device?”

Saikia said that he would like to ask the Prime Minister some queries: “How much black money has been unearthed since November 8? What is the economic loss to the tion on account of demonetization?  How many jobs and livelihoods have been lost since the announcement of the policy? How many lives have been lost due to demonetization? Why has the government not paid any compensation to the families of the deceased? What was the process of consultation and preparedness followed prior to demonetization? Why were experts, economists or the RBI not consulted before unleashing this draconian policy upon the people? Will the government place the mes of all persons, institutions, and entities that deposited Rs. 25 lakh or more in bank accounts in the six-month period preceding November 8?”

Saikia said: “We’re not in favour of circulation of black money. We also want to put an end to black money, but not the way the BJP government is doing. During the last two years in the UPA regime we did recover Rs 1.30850 lakh crore black money without any hassle.”

Another Congress leader Kishore Bhattacharya said: “It doesn’t look good for a prime minister to talk on an Opposition leader like Rahul Gandhi. He should keep it in mind that he’s the Prime Minister, not an RSS leader. What he’s done in 30 months of the 60-month period he had sought from the people of the country? What’s he done in the 30 months?” 

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