Reported By:
| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Nov 16, 2016, 09:22 PM IST
Facing opposition onslaught, government today put up a strong defence in Rajya Sabha on demonetisation, saying the step was taken in national interest to end corruption and black money, which it is said is also used for terror activities in the country.
Power Minister Piyush Goyal, who spoke on behalf of the ruling side after Congress leader Anand Sharma slammed the government, rejected as baseless the opposition charge that there was "leakage" of the decision and said everyone was taken by surprise which is why there are "initial" problems.
"There is no politics in it. It is a step taken in national interest," he said, adding the step will help the country in the long run. "If anyone has the strength to take on black money and corruption, it is the BJP government and Narendra Modi," the minister said. He claimed that common people are out in support of the government's move which is aimed against graft and terror and that the step will lead to curbing inflation and tax rate may come down. Goyal claimed that the country has welcomed this initiative of the Modi government and it is natural that some people who have black money and are indulging in corruption and blackmoney are worried about it.
"Desh me imandaar ka samman hua hai aur be-imaan ka nuksaan hua hai, (The honest have been honoured and the dishonest have faced losses)," he said.
"I am confident that public is understanding the initial problems because the decision was kept a secret. No honest tax-payer will lose a single rupee. The loss will be of those who have amassed wealth through corruption and black money and the public should also support the government in the move," he said.
Goyal said some pain and difficulty in the implementation of such a decision is inevitable but despite that the people have strongly supported the move.
He urged all the parties to support the move so that the House gives a message to the country that all are against corruption and black money.
To Sharma's charge that those questioning the government are labelled as anti-national, he said, "Understandably if someone opposes it (demonetisation), questions will be raised on whether they are against ending the menace of corruption and black money in the country."
Taking a dig at the opposition, he said, "We thought all political parties will support us in Parliament. But for some reasons they have opposed the move. It seems they are worried due to the large public favouring it and supporting the government despite the problems being faced by them." Goyal also said BJP has already put out its poll expenses on the website and after this step all will think before indulging in corruption and black marketing.
Goyal said when the NDA government assumed charge in 2014, the country was embroiled in corruption and scams. Now the Modi government has taken a step, through which he has met the "expectations" of the people, the minister added. "There are some people who are unhappy over it. This is an important step in the war against graft, terror and drugs and political parties should be happy over it," he said.
Justifying the move, Goyal also claimed that from the documents and reports available, the RBI had realised that a large quantum of money was not circulating or coming to the chests and analysed that this money was hidden.
"Now the government cannot give a specific figure for this. But the RBI gave a proposal to the government and it came before the Cabinet, which approved the move," Goyal said.
"There is no curb on honestly-earned money. So nobody should have a problem," he added.
Responding to issues raised by the opposition, Goyal said some people have been saying that seven or ten days' time should have been given. "Secrecy is most important for such a step," he added.
Listing the benefits of the move, Goyal said interest rates will come down, inflation would be curbed and even the tax rate will come down. "If 5 people don't pay tax, the brunt is borne by the rest of 95 percent people. And if taxes are paid, there will be more money with the Centre to carry out welfare works for farmers, women, SC and ST sections," he added. With regard to allegations that the move has been timed to benefit BJP in the UP elections, he said such a statement itself implies that people support this step. To demands that the government should declare the names of people who have Swiss Bank accounts, Goyal said such a step will make it difficult for government to obtain more information about such accounts. But some people want the government to make the error of declaring these names and then it will have difficulty in getting this information, Goyal claimed.
Follow latest developments here:
Chhattisgarh becomes the first state to pass the motion to support #DeMonetisation policy of PM Modi, which was proposed by CM Raman Singh.
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
In view of complaints reg. builders using old 500/1000 notes for booking flats,IT conducts survey on some builders' offices in Noida:Sources
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Madhubani: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar once again hails PM Modi's move of scrapping Rs 500/1000 notes, says in "I am in total favour of the ban" pic.twitter.com/DWMlIPeyfO
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Mai is ka himmayiti hoon, 2 number ka jaali note apne aap isse samaapt hoga: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar #DeMonetisation pic.twitter.com/kdlpDRu1Vo
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Benaami sampatti hain logon ki iss par bhi nazar rakhiye, us par bhi humla kendra sarkaar ko jaldi se jaldi karna chahiye: Bihar CM pic.twitter.com/n0izMdhD2l
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Cong to demand Joint Parliamentary Committee probe in selective leakage of information to some BJP leaders on #DeMonetisation issue: Sources
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow, 11 AM.
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
We demand that PM should be present here tomorrow morning and participate in the discussion on #DeMonetisation: GN Azad, Congress in RS
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Comparing our PM with Hitler, Mussolini, Gaddafi is atrocious to say the least; it is totally wrong: RS Prasad in RS #demonetisation
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
LIVE: This step by PM @narendramodi has enhanced the faith of people in the political system: @MVenkaiahNaidu in RS, on #demonetisation pic.twitter.com/0sivHjwiCi
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 16, 2016
Unfortunately however, the basic principle behind #demonetisation itself is being opposed: @MVenkaiahNaidu in Rajya Sabha https://t.co/uerLppkDLZ
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 16, 2016
People expected the entire Parliament to take a clear stand, to agree with basic merits of #Demonetisation proposal: @MVenkaiahNaidu in RS
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 16, 2016
Reacting to the incident, Naidu claimed that people weren't interested in a history lesson. He claimed that the if people hated PM Modi then it would be seen in 2019. He added that Modi govt marched to victory because the nation was tired of scams and scandals, wondered if the Congress were in favour hoarders and scamsters. He assured everyone that if there money was valid, nothing would happen to it.
Pramod Tiwari (Indian National Congress) claimed that the government was acting like a chit-fund company. He also went on to compare Modi to Mussolini, Gaddafi, and Hitler. Tiwari went on to say that while the Indian PM's seat was occupied by Nehru, Shastri, Charan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the current PM reminded him of dictators like Gaddafi, Hitler and Mussolini. There was uproar after the comment and Ravi Shankar Prasad interrupted Tiwari's speech and called it atrocious. Prasad urged the chair to expunge the remarks.
Prem Chand Gupta of RJD warns of an anarchy-like situation.
Loan to Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher a write-off 'only in books,' but the Govt still pursuing his case: Arun Jaitley in RS pic.twitter.com/1sh3QTJ2Z5
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Please bear with the inconvenience for just a few days because this move will ensure golden future for India: Rajnath Singh in demonetization
BJP varisht neta or khanan(mining) mafia ki beti ki shaadi mein 500Cr paani ki tarah bahaye gaye par sarkar ne kuch nahi kiya:Mayawati in RS
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 16, 2016
Mamata Banerjee after meeting President
# Initially ATM meant "All time Money" now it is "Aayega tab milega"
# The situation arising out of demonetization has triggered a sort of constitutional crisis.
# We have requested the President to speak to government and decide on this and bring back normalcy in the country. President was once the Finance Minister, and knows country's situation better than anyone else, he will take appropriate action.
# Those with black money have been supported, but taxpayers are suffering
Several Opposition parties including Congress plan to bring adjournment motion on demonetization issue in Lok Sabha tomorrow.
Mamata Banerjee leads the protest march to the President's House, other Opposition parties also participate.
TMC and other Opposition parties hold protest march to the President's House over the demonetization issue
The whole nation has welcomed the move, says Union Minister Piyush Goyal replying to Congress.
It's a sensitive issue, we want the PM to come to the Rajya Sabha and take part in this discussion: Mayawati
Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi over demonetization
# You are being made to stand in queues.Your money will be given to select 15-20 industrialists.You all know their names.
# The masses in India are standing in queue. Do you see any rich person, a big industrialist standing in queue?
# Those who are real black marketeers, those who have Rs 10-20000 crore, those who go with Modi in planes, action should be taken against them.
PM Modi met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha and enquired about her health; also met other Opposition leaders.
Congress leader Anand Sharma initiates debate in Rajya Sabha
# 86% of the currency in the markets was 500/1000 notes, was scrapped by just one announcement. Was it all black?
# The only message that has gone in the world is India's economy run on black money. Labourers have become jobless. Farmers are standing in queue: Anand sharma.
# Who has given you the right? Our money and we should beg for it? There are ways to fight black money.
# Without doing surgery everyone is becoming surgeon. Everything is being called surgical strike.
# Government has list of those holding black money in Swiss Bank. We demand that PM must tell who all are there in the list.
# An atmosphere has been created by government where questioning the government has become the parameter to decide one's nationalism.
# I condemn PM's statement in Goa for mocking the people who are standing in queues. He must apologise.
# BJP leaders go to wedding functions of Janardhan Reddy and they talk about fighting black money.Why don't you arrest him?
Lok Sabha was adjourned on the first day of the winter session after paying glowing tributes to nine members and world leaders, including sitting TMC MP Renuka Sinha.
Paying tributes to Sinha, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the Trinamool Congress MP from Coochbehar passed away following a cardiac arrest on August 16.
Mahajan told the House that six other Lok Sabha MPs had also died in recent past. They were V Jeyalakshmi (Member, 5th and 6th Lok Sabhas), Arif Baig (Member, 6th and 9th Lok Sabhas), P Kannan (Member, 6th and 8th Lok Sabhas).
Other former members to whom the House paid tributes were Harsh Vardhan (Member, 9th and 15th Lok Sabhas), Jayawanti Mehta (Member, 9th, 11th and 13th Lok Sabhas), Usha Verma (Member, 7th, 8th and 9th Lok Sabhas).
#WinterSession will have good debates; Govt. believes in openly debating every issue, sets stage for very good decisions: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/hau1INNRUp
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 16, 2016
PM Modi addresses media ahead of session
# Today the session of the Parliament is commencing. The last session witnessed the historic GST passage.
# Am sure we will have good debates on various issues, parties will present their views on issues. We will talk about people's aspirations.
# The Government believes in debating every issue in an open manner, as this sets the stage for very good decisions
We are ready for discussion on any issue. We are doing good work so we have no problems in discussing anything: Venkaiah Naidu
Congress Rajya Sabha strategy meeting underway in Parliament
No one is accepting 500/1000 notes here so its a crisis like situation for us, not able to even recover shop rent: Lucknow flower seller
We will be going with Mamata ji to meet the President today: Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena
