As hundreds of thousands thronged banks and ATMs across the country for a fourth day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday sought 50 days to tide over the nationwide cash crisis.
Addressing a public rally in Goa, Modi made an impassioned plea to citizens to give him until December 30 to weed out the ill-gotten wealth in India.
“I know what kind of powers I have taken on. I know the kind of people who will be against me now. I am looting what they had accumulated over 70 years,” Modi said at an indoor stadium in Bambolim village near Panaji.
“They will not leave me alive. They will destroy me. Let them do what they want. (For) 50 days, help me. The country should just help me for 50 days.
“This is not the end. I am openly saying, this is not a full stop... There are other projects in my mind to stop dishonesty and corruption.”
At one time, Modi, who returned from Japan on Saturday, halted for a few seconds as he turned emotional while saying he had sacrificed his home and family for the sake of the country.
The decision to demonetise the high value notes was planned in secrecy over the past 10 months, he said.
Modi came to power in 2014 with a mandate to boost economic growth and fight the corruption that taints large parts of India’s political and business life.
Modi mocked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for standing in a queue to exchange Rs4,000
“Those who looted the country for 70 years and were involved in mega scams are standing in queue to exchange Rs4,000,” Modi said without taking Gandhi’s name.
The Congress leader on Friday exchanged eight Rs500 notes at the State Bank of India’s Parliament Street branch in New Delhi for new notes after standing in a long queue.
Attacking opposition parties, including the Congress, for criticising his sudden move, Modi recalled his speech at a public function years ago when he said given a chance he will ban Rs1,000 notes.
“I am surprised that the Congress is asking why I stopped Rs1,000 notes and Rs500 notes. When your government stopped 25 paise, we did not oppose it. You could stop only 25 paise coins because your power was limited to that much. You did not make higher currency notes illegal during your rule but we did it,” Modi said, drawing a huge applause from a 50,000-strong gathering.
The then Congresss government withdrew coins of 25 paise denomination and below (10 paise and 5 paise) from June 30, 2011.