Demonetisation exposed Rahul, Sonia's business, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a counter-attack at the Opposition on the issue of black money and corruption.

He said that demonetisation exposed shell companies as well as “the business” of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi.

“Asking for details of the outcome of demonetisation? It was demonetisation that exposed the shell companies and your business for which you had to seek bail from a court. Have you forgotten this? He said, apparently referring to the National Herald case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against the Congress president and his mother.

Modi was addressing a public meeting in Bilaspur, which is scheduled to go for the polls along with 71 other constituencies in the second phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections on November 20.

He also hit back at the Congress president’s accusations against him on the Rafale deal, saying that “talking nonsense and hurling abuses on others” would not yield yet any result.

Launching a scathing attack at Modi on the Rafale deal and the PNB loan fraud case involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, Rahul had on November 10 said that the prime minister “stole” the money of the people from the banks and gave it to “his rich friends.”

He was addressing a public meeting in Jagdalpur district of Chhattisgarh.

“Modi ji asked you to take brooms in hands for cleaning and went to steal money for his rich friends like Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi. Let me tell you one thing—Congress is going to form its government in Chhattisgarh. It is going to happen in next 10 days,” Rahul had said.

Rahul, during his poll campaigns in the state, has been reminding people and traders of the “hardships and losses” that they faced post-demonetisation, exhorting the electors to vote for the Congress.

“While both the mother and son (Sonia and Rahul Gandhi) are out on bail in a case of financial irregularity, they are giving certificates to Modi,” the prime minister said, reacting to the Congress president’s remark.

He listed various initiatives taken by his government at the Centre and the Raman Singh’s government in the state for development, appealing the people to vote for the BJP in the Assembly polls.

“Vikas (development) is the only mantra that the BJP is following,” Modi said.