Rahul dares Modi to release ‘white paper’ on demonetisation

New Delhi, Dec. 28: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi again and demanded a “white paper” on demonetisation to bring out the truth about the note ban.
Daring Modi to disclose the actual amount of cash recovered since the announcement to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, Gandhi said, “Modiji should reveal how much black money has been recovered since November 8.”
He also sought to know when Modi would unveil in Parliament the list of names of Swiss bank account holders that the Switzerland government provided.
“We want to know who is the thief? Modiji has performed demonetisation ‘yagna’ for 50 families and one per cent super rich people of the country,” Gandhi told reporters here at the party headquarters on the Congress’ Foundation Day.
“Many people, including the poor, small traders, farmers, and the youth have suffered the most due to demonetisation and the government should give them compensation,” Gandhi said.He questioned Modi on the “economic loss to the nation on account of demonetisation”, and pulled out a list of five questions.
“How many jobs and livelihood have been lost since this policy has been announced? How many lives have been lost due to demonetisation? Why has the government not paid any compensation to the families of the deceased?”
Gandhi asked the Prime Minister to answer these questions in a “white paper”.
Rahul Gandhi, who has strongly opposed the Centre’s demonetisation move, asked, “What was the process of consultation and preparedness followed prior to the implementation of demonetisation?”
“Why were experts, economists or the Reserve Bank of India not consulted before unleashing this draconian policy upon the people?”
He also said, “Will it place the names of all persons, institutions, and entities that deposited Rs 25 lakh or more in their bank accounts in the six months preceding November 8, 2016?”
Gandhi demanded an explanation from Modi as to what was the reason behind “snatching away people’s financial independence”.
The Congress party also put forward a charter of demands for the Modi government.