Here’s How Manmohan Singh Summed Up Demonetisation: Organised Loot

The Rajya Sabha was in session without uproar for the first time since the winter session began.

File photo of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. (Photo: AP)

Pointing out the extent of the hardship that demonetisation has caused the average Indian and small businesses – along with the likely hit of 2 percent to GDP – former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said this has been coupled with “monumental” mismanagement in implementation.

Attacking Narendra Modi in the first debate of the winter session in the Parliament, the former Prime Minister put the onus of the 60-65 deaths caused after demonetisation squarely on the government.

Here are the highlights of his speech:

Urging the govenrment to take swift corrective action, Manmohan Singh said, “I urge the Prime Minister to find practical, pragmatic ways and take steps to provide relief to the people suffering due to demonetisation.”

After days of a dysfunctional Parliament in session, Manmohan Singh’s statement was followed by Samajwadi Party (SP) member Naresh Agrawal and Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Derek O’Brien.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be responding to their remarks later in the session.