Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a rally at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
Highlights
- PM takes a dig at Opposition's call for 'Bharat Bandh' tomorrow
- Asks people at UP rally if should shut out corruption or shut down nation
- Amid cash crunch, PM asks people to learn online banking
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took on the opposition over its Monday's protest plans at the BJP's Parivartan Rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, asking whether it was preferable to put a stop to corruption and black money or shut down the country.
Without referring to the opposition strike call, PM Modi asked, "Should we shut out corruption or shut down the nation?"
Urging the audience in the poll-bound state to shift to cashless transactions, he said irrespective of whether one has gone to school, people are buying tickets online, sending messages on WhatsApp and using social media to share pictures they click.
"You can also easily learn how to run business, transact money through your phone, without the need of any cash," he said. "Technology has advanced so much that one does not need to carry a wallet, but just your phone. Your phone has turned into your bank branch".
With the government's ban on currency of high denomination, banks and ATMs have witnessed block-long queues since November 8. The matter has turned a political controversy with the opposition blaming the government for the hardships the people are facing. Launching a sharp attack on the government in parliament, the opposition parties have called for a nationwide protest tomorrow.
The Opposition responded almost immediately, with the Congress saying it has not called for a "Bharat bandh" or a countrywide shutdown on Monday but 'Jan Aakrosh Diwas' to hold protests over currency ban.
"There will be protest rallies; we have not called for a 'Bharat bandh' (shutdown). Misinformation has been spread by the BJP which is ill-informed," said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called PM Modi's radio programme Mann Ki Baat, a "misuse of state machinery". Mann ki Baat has now become "Modi ki Baat," Ms Banerjee said in a statement. "Instead of finding solutions to the suffering and pain of millions, he is doing personal vendetta, personal publicity and business."
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati said, "We are opposing the decision because it affects 90 per cent people."