NEW DELHI: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said demonetisation had destroyed millions of jobs while PM Narendra Modi was harnessing people's anger over unemployment towards communal hatred, leading the opposition's criticism of notebandi on its first anniversary.
In an op-ed article in Financial Times, titled "Modi's reforms have robbed India of its economic prowess", Rahul said Modi's "arbitrary" act had killed millions of livelihoods by destroying the informal labour sector and wiping out small and medium businesses. He said notebandi had shaved off 2 per cent from the GDP. Rahul extended his criticism of Modi to GST that he called was "modern day licence raj".
Rahul said, "Modi has damaged India by converting anger created by joblessness and lack of economic opportunity into communal hatred. He has chosen to hide behind a shallow, hate-filled political narrative. Anger might have brought Modi to power but it will never create jobs or fix India's institutions."
In the article, he has also spoken about China's growth as a global manufacturing hub and the country's absence of democracy — a theme he expounded upon during his recent US lectures.
Congress held nationwide demonstrations themed "desh bhugat raha hai (country is suffering)", with Rahul attending the protest in Gujarat's textile town of Surat. Youth Congress too held a protest at the Jantar Mantar in the capital.
Addressing a press conference, Congress spokespersons said notebandi cost the Indian economy Rs 3 lakh crore while the organised sector lost 15 lakh jobs and the unorganised sector lost 3.72 crore jobs. They accused the Centre of not probing the "scams linked to BJP" during notebandi. Insinuating that information about currency ban had been leaked to friendly entities, one of the spokespersons Randeep Surjewala said millions of crores were suddenly deposited in the banks in September 2016 but the government has not investigated the account holders.
Questioning BJP's claim that notebandi had wiped out corruption, Rahul wrote, "12 months on, the only thing he (Modi) has wiped out is confidence in our once booming economy".
'CBI's Ryan move timed to divert focus'
Congress alleged a "BJP hand" in the CBI announcing the arrest of a school student in Pradhyumn murder case on Wednesday, saying the timing was planned to "sabotage" the media coverage of nationwide protests against demonetisation. "Unfortunately, this government is only centered around event management... The misuse of Compromised Bureau of Investigation as a BJP puppet will never hide the truth," AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala said. He doubted the CBI's announcement, saying even the parents of the murdered child had raised questions about the arrest made by the agency.
In an op-ed article in Financial Times, titled "Modi's reforms have robbed India of its economic prowess", Rahul said Modi's "arbitrary" act had killed millions of livelihoods by destroying the informal labour sector and wiping out small and medium businesses. He said notebandi had shaved off 2 per cent from the GDP. Rahul extended his criticism of Modi to GST that he called was "modern day licence raj".
Rahul said, "Modi has damaged India by converting anger created by joblessness and lack of economic opportunity into communal hatred. He has chosen to hide behind a shallow, hate-filled political narrative. Anger might have brought Modi to power but it will never create jobs or fix India's institutions."
In the article, he has also spoken about China's growth as a global manufacturing hub and the country's absence of democracy — a theme he expounded upon during his recent US lectures.
Congress held nationwide demonstrations themed "desh bhugat raha hai (country is suffering)", with Rahul attending the protest in Gujarat's textile town of Surat. Youth Congress too held a protest at the Jantar Mantar in the capital.
Addressing a press conference, Congress spokespersons said notebandi cost the Indian economy Rs 3 lakh crore while the organised sector lost 15 lakh jobs and the unorganised sector lost 3.72 crore jobs. They accused the Centre of not probing the "scams linked to BJP" during notebandi. Insinuating that information about currency ban had been leaked to friendly entities, one of the spokespersons Randeep Surjewala said millions of crores were suddenly deposited in the banks in September 2016 but the government has not investigated the account holders.
Questioning BJP's claim that notebandi had wiped out corruption, Rahul wrote, "12 months on, the only thing he (Modi) has wiped out is confidence in our once booming economy".
'CBI's Ryan move timed to divert focus'
Congress alleged a "BJP hand" in the CBI announcing the arrest of a school student in Pradhyumn murder case on Wednesday, saying the timing was planned to "sabotage" the media coverage of nationwide protests against demonetisation. "Unfortunately, this government is only centered around event management... The misuse of Compromised Bureau of Investigation as a BJP puppet will never hide the truth," AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala said. He doubted the CBI's announcement, saying even the parents of the murdered child had raised questions about the arrest made by the agency.
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