Kirti Azad Wants “Inefficient” Jaitley to Resign Over Note Ban

“The Finance Minister is an inefficient person. He is not an economist. He should resign,” Azad said.

Suspended BJP leader Kirti Azad (left) and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. (Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)

Continuing his tirade against Arun Jaitley, suspended BJP leader and MP Kirti Azad has demanded the resignation of the Finance Minister.

Azad alleged that Jaitley was an "inefficient" minister and that he was responsible for the hardships faced by the common man post demonetisation.

It is Arun Jaitley who is bringing disrepute to the government. It is he who is responsible for the hardships faced by the common people post-demonetisation. The Finance Minister is an inefficient person – and is also not an economist. He should resign.

Kirti Azad 

"Our Prime Minister has taken a decision (of demonetising high value notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000) and banks are indulged in converting crores of black money into white. In whose jurisdiction these banks come? These bank come under the ambit of the Finance Ministry," said Azad, who represents Darbhanga in the Lok Sabha.

The former cricketer was suspended from the BJP, by party chief Amit Shah on 23 December last year, for publicly targeting the Finance Minister for “irregularities” in DDCA, of which Jaitley was president for 13 years till 2013.

He had criticised Jaitley earlier as well, alleging that he had been made Union Minister even after losing in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Azad alleged that those "rejected" by the electorate have not only been made ministers but have become "all in all" in the government and the party.

Former cricketer and BJP member Kirti Azad (Photo: PTI)

“There are people (in the party), who have been rejected by the people in the elections, have not only been made ministers (in the Union government) but have actually become ‘sarve-sarva’ (all in all) both in the government and in the organisation,” Azad told a press meet at his Darbhanga residence on 23 October this year.

Azad also demanded to know why the Finance Ministry had not conducted black money raids before demonetisation.

Unclear 'Intentions' of Government

Azad attacked the ruling government, saying it would have made sufficient arrangements and preparations to deal with the situation post-demonetisation "had its intentions been clear".

"The government's policymakers do not have practical knowledge. Their assessments are based on far from reality," he alleged.

He said that it would be difficult for India to make the transition into a cashless economy. E-payment mediums are not cent per cent safe and secure, he alleged.