Modi in UP: People’s Struggle Post Currency Ban Won’t Be in Vain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Parivartan rally in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, ahead of elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image used for representational purpose only. (Photo: AP)

On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi commented on demonetisation during a Parivartan rally in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

In his speech, he assured the people that their ‘hard-work, sacrifice and struggle’ wouldn’t be in vain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Parivartan rally in Moradabad on Saturday, said he "will find a way" to jail the rich who had after demonetisation stashed their ill-gotten wealth in Jan Dhan bank accounts of the poor - and let the poor retain the money.

Defending the decision to spike 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, Modi acknowledged the inconvenience caused to people by 8 November move but said it would end all problems, including poverty, corruption and black money, in India.

Also Read: PM Modi, Demonetisation ‘Brahmastra’ Could’ve Avoided Hurting Poor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the decision had rattled those who hoarded large quantities of black money. (Photo: Reuters)

Addressing a rally here in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Modi said the decision had rattled those who hoarded large quantities of black money and the rich were now queuing up in front of the houses of the poor, pleading with them to deposit their wealth in the latter’s Jan Dhan accounts.

Whoever has deposited the money in your accounts, don’t withdraw a rupee from it. See how they will plead and fall at your feet. If they threaten you tell them, ‘I will write a letter to Modi’.

Narendra Modi

"If you promise you won't withdraw the money or return it to them, I promise I will find a way to send these people to jail and you can retain the money.

Whoever has deposited the money in your accounts, don't withdraw a rupee from it. See how they will plead and fall at your feet. If they threaten you tell them, 'I will write a letter to Modi"

Also Read: PM Modi, Your Team Erred in Separating Demonetisation From VDIS

The Prime Minister took a dig at his political opponents who have denounced the surprise decision to recall nearly 86 per cent of currency in circulation that has caused an unprecedented cash crunch in India. He said hardship of standing in queues for cash after demonetisation was announced.

Modi said previous governments had made India stand in queues for everything. “We had to stand in queue to buy sugar, to buy kerosene, to buy wheat. Thanks to those who ruled (earlier) this country was being wasted away in queues.

"What I have done is start a queue to end all other queues."

The Prime Minister emphasised that he won't let the hardships of the people go waste and urged them to start getting cashless and use their mobile phones as their wallets.

"You don't need to withdraw money from ATMs. You can buy what you want from the money in your account using your phones."

Also Read: Life in the Time of Note Ban: Sketching People at ATM Queues

He said his main aim was to fight corruption and get back the black money people have hidden and lamented that he was being criticised for doing this.

People wait outside banks to exchange currency notes in New Delhi on 11 November 2016. (Photo: IANS)

"Has this country not been held back by corruption? Don't we need to weed out this corruption? Will this corruption go away on its own?" he asked.

“I am surprised that in my own country some people are accusing me. Is it a sin that those who were looting the country were now being made accountable?” He said he had no vested interest. “I am a fakir (hermit). I will pack my bags and leave.”

The Prime Minister said poverty needed to be eradicated from big states if India was to progress.

"To eradicate poverty from the country, we first need to eradicate poverty from the bigger states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal," he said.

Also Read: Modi’s Demonetisation Masterstroke: 5 of Our Stories to Check Out