Protests against demonetisation 'manufactured': BJP

Dismissing the Opposition’s nationwide agitation against demonetisation as “manufactured protest”, the ruling BJP tried to project the 2019 Lok Sabha battle as a fight between "crusaders versus protectors” of black money.

Listing various steps taken by Modi government, including closing down shell companies, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked why UPA government was functioning in ‘Dhritrastra mode’

The party also launched a hashtag “#CorruptCongressFearsDemo” to train guns on Congress.

On a day the Congress hit the streets and Opposition parties joined ranks to slam Modi’s government’s demonetisation decision, Patra said that a war is on in Indian politics with the Narendra Modi-led government working to curb black money, while the Congress president was trying to save it.

The all-out attack by the BJP spokesperson on Congress came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressed back to back public meetings in the midst of election campaign in Chhattisgarh. In the rallies, Gandhi was acerbic about the government over the demonetisation decision.

Pack of lies

Patra, however, alleged that Gandhi was reacting as demonetisation decision had hit the black money earned by four generations of his family and his allegations were nothing but a “pack of lies”.

Hitting back at Gandhi for his comment that demonetisation was a planned, brutal conspiracy and a shrewd scheme "to convert the black money of Modi's "suited-booted friends", Patra said, in fact, demonetisation destroyed “ill-gotten wealth of Gandhi’s four generations”.