Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who announced the demonetization of high-value currency notes such as Rs 500 and Rs 1000, has failed miserably and the demonetization has also failed to get desired results, according to former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Deve Gowda.
Speaking with media persons here on Wednesday, Deve Gowda said that Prime Minister had promised moon to the people of this country but ended up in delivering nothing. “Poor, labourers, farmers and women have undergone lot of problems due to the demonetization of high-value currency notes. I happened to listen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on December 31. It was a very disappointing speech,’’ Deve Gowda said.
He said the people of this country had extended cooperation to the government from November 8 to December 31 with great expectations but they were disappointed and many people were compelled to undergo lot of trauma and difficulties. “I, as a former prime minister, have been observing everything. In the name of demonetization, Opposition parties were targeted by using Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against them. I want to tell that Congress and BJP have misused the CBI. During my 10-month tenure as Prime Minister, the CBI was strong enough to function independently,’’ he said.
Expressing disappointment over the CBI arresting two MPs of Trinamool Congress, he described it as an attempt to control West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Is it possible for a political party to register the name of the donor, his caste and creed or address while accepting donations? For example, the JD(S) had lost office to Congress. Now, we are constructing a building for JD(S) office. We have collected more than Rs 3.50 crore for this purpose. Is it possible for us to collect all the information about the donors and give it to the CBI? This is the example of how the CBI is being misused,’’ he said.
He opined that Central Government should not use the CBI against the TMC just because it had opposed demonetization. “I have been to Mamata Banerjee’s residence. She is residing at a small dwelling. She doesn’t have more than 10 ordinary sarees,’’ he said.
Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for demonetizing high-value currency notes, he said the prime minister had claimed that demonetization has helped to curb terror and naxal activities but terrorists rule the roost in Kashmir. “Ultras are active in Assam, Nagaland and other areas in the country. So, it indicates the failure of demonetization. I too supported the demonetization in the beginning but I was shocked and disappointed over the adverse impact of demonetization on common man, poor, farmers in the country,’’ he said.
Commenting on the drought relief fund from the Central Government, he said the all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 4,000 crore since the loss, due to the drought in the state, estimated at Rs 17,000 crore but the prime minister had agreed to release only Rs 2,000 crore. “I want the Central Government to release more funds for drought relief works,’’ he said.
He also called upon JD(S) workers to prepare for the by-elections to Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly segments.
