Oppn slams PM for skipping note ban

The Opposition leaders likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s New Year Eve address to a budget speech and slammed him for omitting any reference to the demonetisation initiative.

“To me, this appeared like a budget speech, felt sad for the finance minister. What will he say during budget,” senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said.

The Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Modi had left several questions over demonetisation unanswered.

AICC general secretary Gurudas Kamat saw the speech as a desperate attempt by a “guilt-ridden” prime minister to appease the people with sops.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Modi had not provided any concrete solutions to the problems of the people.

“Where are the figures of demonetisation? How much of black money recovered? What did the nation gain after 50 days of excruciating pain,” asked Banerjee, who has emerged as the rallying point of the anti note-ban protests.

Banerjee and Kamat also said the prime minister had left nothing for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to announce in his Budget speech.
DH News Service