Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people to bear with him till December 30 to cleanse the system by eliminating black money.
“We are working by taking the nation into confidence. The government wants to protect the honest, but the dishonest should face action. Bear with me for 50 days,” Modi said, addressing the 101st Foundation Day programme of the Karnatak Lingayat Education Society in Belagavi on Sunday.
He also announced that more anti-graft measures were on the anvil. Modi launched a scathing attack on detractors of the demonetisation move, especially the Congress, saying those involved in mega scams were now standing in queues to exchange Rs 4,000. “We banned currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination as we had the strength to do so. When Congress stopped 25 paise, did we say anything? They could dare to stop only 25 paise, that’s what their power was limited to,” he said.
“But they did not make higher denomination currency notes illegal. We did it. Five years ago, I had dared the Congress to ban Rs 1,000 notes,” Modi said.
“We maintained secrecy regarding the demonisation move to ensure that the dishonest do not get an opportunity to misuse honest people in lieu of black money,” Modi said.
Modi, who got emotional while addressing a function at Panaji over the problems being faced by people and the long queues in banks and ATMS, said, “I will give you the India you desired.” He stressed the need to go cashless and adopt plastic money.
“We wanted to take measures of demonetisation, hence had opened accounts for 20 crore people under the Jan Dhan scheme two years ago. All of them have debit cards,” he said.
The prime minister said he was ready to face the consequences of his moves as certain forces are “up against me” as their 70 years of loot was now in trouble as a result of demonetisation. “I know that (some) forces are up against me, they may not let me live, they may ruin me because their loot of 70 years is in trouble, but I am prepared,” Modi said.
Those who never even offered 25 paisa in river Ganga are today pouring in notes, he added.
Making a combative speech, Modi said, “Over the past few days, banks employees have toiled harder than they would in a year. Youth helped senior citizens. Our decision has pained the citizens, but the country will gain more.”