End demonetisation, jail those with Swiss bank accounts: Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal urged PM Modi to immediately roll back the demonetisation of higher value currency notes and jail those with illegal Swiss bank accounts

New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately roll back the demonetisation of higher value currency notes and jail those with illegal Swiss bank accounts.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also warned that if the massive cash crunch across the country continued, it could lead to law and order issues and spiral out of control.

"I urge the Prime Minister to take back his decision" of November 8 to demonetize the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes as it has created huge problems for the ordinary people, Kejriwal told the media.

He also took a dig at Modi for saying that the government needed just 50 more days to streamline the troubles triggered by the dramatic demonetisation.

"Does this mean that the markets will remain closed for the next 50 days? How can farmers survive? Will people keep standing in queues for 50 days? He is only giving an emotional speech."

Asking the Prime Minister to stop "natakbazi" (drama), the AAP leader told Modi to first jail "his friends" who hold illegal accounts in Swiss banks.

"People expect you to take action against them," he said. "Once you jail the corrupt, corruption will automatically end.

"But first roll back this decision. Give up your pride. You can re-introduce the scheme later."

Kejriwal said even Modi admitted in his Goa speech that only a few lakh people were dishonest. Then why was the entire country being punished, he asked.

He warned that the country's economy was sliding because of the crisis, as evident from the serpentine queues outside all banks and ATMs across the country and the way business had been impacted everywhere.

"If law and order problems crop up, it will become difficult to control the situation, Modiji."

Calling the demonetisation a "very poorly implemented scheme", Kejriwal said: "Ever since this order has come, there is panic in every household."

IANS