Demonetisation anniversary: Rahul, BJP fight it out over ex-serviceman crying in queue

As the day rings in the one-year anniversary of the demonetisation drive, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have brought their fight over the economic reform to the serpentine queues outside the bank ATMs, in the aftermath of the announcement wherein people jostled to withdraw new bank notes as the older ones were tendered illegal.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi continued his tweeting juggernaut against the drive and in one of his tweets, quoted a Hindi couplet and said, "Eik aansu bhi hukoomat ke liye khatra hai. Tumne dekha nahin hai aankhon ka samandar hona [Even a single tear is dangerous for the government, because you never know when the drop turns into an ocean]."

What was more notable in his tweet was a picture he attached with it. The man in the photograpgh is an ex-serviceman, apparently crying in despair standing in a serpentine queue in November last year.

Nand Lal, who lives in Gurugram, became the face of the woes people faced in the aftermath of the move.

Well, supposedly.

Lal, while speaking to ANI, made a marked turn-around on such reports and said, "I welcome the government's decision. According to me, this demonetisation drive brought much relief from terrorism. These notes were made in Russia because the country is a friend of India. America is nothing, just a friend of Pakistan."

The army veteran, in another media interaction, had said that he initially faced difficulty in getting cash, but everything soon became smoother.

When asked if it was the right decision, the retired soldier said he would go with whatever the government decides as he has been a serviceman. He added he would abide by every decision of the government.

Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, on the party's part, also said the same.

"Rahul Gandhi has tweeted against demonetisation by using Nand Lal. But Nand Lal has stated on record that he supports Modi ji," Prasad told the media.

Rahul Gandhi has dubbed the note ban as a tragedy and a thoughtless act.

"Demonetisation is a tragedy. We stand with millions of honest Indians, whose lives & livelihoods were destroyed by PM's thoughtless act," he said.