Demonetisation: "What miracle can you do in the remaining 14 days?", Cong asks PM Modi

Party wants JPC probe in the wake of reports of selective leaks ahead of the demonetisation scheme

Srinagar, Dec 15: Jammu and Kashmir Congress today demanded a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into demonetisation, charging that it had benefited only some rich people.

"We demand that there should be a JPC probe into the demonetisation scheme announced by the Prime Minister," senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member K Rehman Khan said.

"There are apprehensions of selective leaks ahead of the announcement for benefitting some rich (people)," he said. Khan said the BJP had demanded an investigation by JPC into the 2G scam when UPA was in power and they should agree a similar probe now for demonetisation.

"The former Union Minister said the Prime Minister's announcement had put common masses in trouble. "Why are they troubling the common masses? Is the black money with poor people?" he asked. Khan said Modi, while announcing the demonetisation move, had sought 50 days time for setting things right and so far "36 days have passed but nothing has changed."

"What miracle can he do in the remaining 14 days?" the Congress leader asked. He said a "dictatorial system" was being established in the country as the demonetisation announcement by the Prime Minister had undermined the independence of the Reserve Bank of India.

"RBI act says demonetisation is carried out by the RBI. It is the RBI Governor who signs the pledge on currency notes and not the Prime Minister.

Where is the RBI Governor?" Khan asked. He said, initially the government claimed that demonetisation will save Rs 4,00,000 crore which will be used for welfare of the people but "now even that dream is crashing."

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking part in the discussion on demonetisation in Parliament, he said, "Why is the PM hesitating in coming to the Parliament? We want to debate, discuss and express our opposition to the move through a vote."

"We know that we do not have the numbers in Lok Sabha but we want to show that the Opposition is united on the issue," he said. Speaking on the Kashmir issue, Khan said that the situation is grim in the region and the Prime Minister's police has "failed" to bring the situation under control.

PTI