Opposition targets govt over demonetisation

Targeting government over issues like demonetisation and Kashmir handling, Opposition on Thursday said it has been a "failure" on all fronts particularly in tackling black money, terrorism and fake currency, even as the ruling side contended that "metamorphosis of India is happening now".

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha that the goverment has imposed an "undeclared emergency" in the country and any criticism is being suppressed.

Participating in a debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Azad said: "2016 has been a year of depression, recession, regression and suppression."

Members of other opposition parties like Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress also attacked the government over demonetisation, state of the economy and other aspects of governance.

From the ruling side, Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said during the previous Congress rule, the country had seen widespread corruption and the economy had been left in a dire condition.

Hitting out at the government, Azad focussed his hour-long speech mainly on demonetisation, handling of Kashmir affairs and surgical strikes.

"...We all talk about demonetisation or notebandi. ...The President has appreciated demonetisation. ...But the government has been a failure on all fronts - black money, terrorism and fake currency," the Congress leader said.

Azad talked about the problems people faced after demonetisation was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 last year and said the government does not even have "remorse" for coming out with such a policy which affected all.

Maintaining that demonetistion had no impact on black money or fake currency, he said it was an "ill conceived" move as 135 circulars were issued to implement a single policy.

"This may find a place in the Guiness Book of World Records." "The government failed to perform. Instead of moving ahead on path of progress, the country is moving backwards," Azad said.

He said demonetisation has impacted farmers and "as per the National Crime Bureau Records, there is a 42 per cent increase in farmers' suicides.

"Is this welfare of farmers? Post-demonetisaton, the situation has worsened. Farmers did not have money to buy seeds, fertiliser and other

inputs," the Congress leader said.