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Cong targets centre over currency notes
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/9/2017 1:59:08 PM
NEW DELHI, Aug 8: The Congress on Tuesday targeted the central government in Rajya Sabha alleging that size of new Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 currency notes is different.
Congress leader Kapil Sibal claimed that different sizes of the new high denomination currency are being printed; "one for the ruling party (members) and one for the others".
Speaking to Reporters, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "We have today discovered the reason why the government did demonetization (of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes in November last year). RBI knew that there were different kinds of currency notes, why did it not mention it on their website."
Earlier in the day, Congress in Rajya Sabha alleged that the 500 and 2,000 rupee notes are different in size, and have different printing ink and symbols on them.
The RBI has given a long, detailed description of why these discrepancies exist between the two kinds of notes. Using this discrepancy as an example to attack the Centre, the Congress said that this showed how the government was treating the entire economy.
Another Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "This is the biggest scam of this century."
Azad said two types of notes are being printed and that "The government has no right to remain in office for even five minutes."
Meanwhile, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi strongly countered the contention of the Congress leaders. Naqvi said the Congress members were creating confusion as the demonetisation had hit hard the corrupt people.
He said any attempt to protect the corrupt people would not succeed.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said even if there are two types of notes, it cannot be a point of order. "You raise the issue in a different form."
Joining the Congress members, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien said, "It is a serious issue." He then displayed 500 rupee notes that he said were different in size and design.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said no country in the world has two notes of different sizes. "One is bigger, one is smaller," he said. "I can give signed (copies of the notes)."
After the adjournment, as slogan-shouting continued, Kurien asked the members again to give notice on the issue. When the House assembled again, the opposition members continued their slogan-shouting.
One of the members was seen displaying Rs 500 notes as other Congress leaders raised anti-government slogans. Ansari asked them to allow the Question Hour to proceed, but to no avail. As the protests continued, the Chairman adjourned the House till 1 pm. Due to uproar, the House was again adjourned till 2 pm and then till 2.30 pm.