Chidambaram's argument shows total bankruptcy of Congress thinking: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday alleged former finance minister P. Chidambaram's assertion that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps making new rules on deposits post demonetisation and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley contradicts them, show total bankruptcy of the Congress thinking.

"If the former finance minister, an eminent lawyer, is going to start making arguments on the basis of dates, which could be a slip of the tongue also, it just shows the total bankruptcy of the Congress thinking," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI.

Kohli also attempted to corner the Congress over the black money issue.

"The question that needs to be answered which the Congress is not answering is why was and how was black money ever created. What they are doing is attacking the cure and picking up a whole argument based on may be just a slip of the tongue," said Kohli.

"This just shows that the Congress Party today stands exposed, has nothing concrete to speak about. If the former finance minister is reduced to making an argument at it, it just shows the total bankruptcy," he added.

Escalating his attack on the Centre over the demonetisation move, Chidambaram earlier said the RBI keeps making new rules on deposits and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley contradicts them.

The former finance minister stated that citizens have no clue who to believe as both authorities have zero credibility.

"Breaking PM's promise of Nov 8 and FM's assurance of Nov 11, RBI makes new rule on deposit, FM contradicts. Who should citizen believe? Neither has credibility," he tweeted.

"Old notes usable until Dec 15. Why can't we deposit remaining notes until Dec 30 as notified?" he said.

Condemning the move of demonetisation, Chidambaram said, "Hoarders have laundered their old notes. The poor and middle class left high and dry."

Earlier on Monday, the RBI announced that deposits in old notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 exceeding Rs 5,000 would be allowed to be deposited only once till December 30.

Jaitley later clarified and said there is no limit as such of Rs. 5,000 and any person can deposit any amount in the old currency, however, not repeatedly.