2 Years On, People Remember UPA For Graft: Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: Even two-and-a-half years after the NDA came to power, people remember the previous UPA regime for corruption, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today, asserting that demonetisation would go a long way in curbing black money.

"The Narendra Modi government has completed half its term and people are still enthused. When corruption is discussed they refer to the UPA regime. There is not a single charge of corruption so far against NDA," he said while speaking on 'Indian economy: The new normal' at a function.

Stating that people still feel inspired and enthused under the Modi government, the minister noted that resentment builds up with passage of time after a new dispensation takes over, but "there is no such feeling against the BJP-led regime".

Slamming Congress and Left parties for focusing only on difficulties seen after demonetisation drive, Mr Jaitley said they were completely ignoring the economic and moral objectives behind the move.

A lot of hardship, violence and killings were witnessed during the Independence movement and partition, the BJP leader said, adding had there been TV channels at that time, the difficulties would have been highlighted instead of the freedom.

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He emphasised that despite the difficulties being faced after note-ban, people were welcoming the move as "they realised that the Prime Minister has displayed the required courage while taking a tough decision, aimed at curbing black money and getting it implemented."

Stating that the previous UPA regime has left behind a legacy of of "policy paralysis, indecisiveness and no-doing approach", Mr Jaitley said the Prime Minister had taken a very courageous decision as he wanted to transform India.

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 "The thinking and system that remained the rule for 70 long years was changed and the status quo was given up, as the country is set to move away from being a developing nation to emerge as a developed country," he said, adding that confronting the new 'normal' in India was not easy.

However, the Prime Minister has redefined the "old normal" in India where black money, corruption and cash flow in elections was considered normal, Mr Jaitley said, adding most activities earlier followed the practice of "so much in cash and so much in cheque."

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Stating that replacement of around 86 per cent of old currency notes was bound to be a gigantic task involving time and difficulties, the Finance Minister said despite all these, 'honest' people in the country now felt that honesty was finally beneficial.