Govt ready for criticism, not for baseless allegations: Meghwal

After the united opposition alleged a selective leak of information about demonetisation before the formal announcement and demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday said the government is ready for the right kind of criticism, but would not accept baseless allegations.

Meghwal toild ANI, "Yesterday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned. The issue of demonetisation was raised in the Rajya Sabha, and during that time, some parties demanded a probe by the JPC. And now, the government is asking for proof about the leak of information."

"Someone said demonetisation was leaked and people deposited money before the announcement. Do they have any proof? And if they have then ask them to please give one. This information was not leaked and all these allegations are baseless," he added.

"Public has readily accepted this scheme. I have asked several people and they said that this is for the first time a very nice Prime Minister has come who has taken such a decision for the people at large," Meghwal said.

Meghwal said, "People will be able to buy houses in big cities and the law and order of the country will also improve. More money will be generated, as in today's time, we have an unaccounted economy."

The winter session of Rajya Sabha opened on Wednesday with a united opposition mounting an assault on the government over demonetisation, saying it had led to "economic anarchy".

The government rejected as baseless the opposition charge that there was "leakage" before the November 8, 2016 decision and said everyone was taken by surprise which is why there are "initial" problems.

Joining ranks over the raging issue, parties such as the Congress, the JD(U), the RJD, the SP, the BSP, the Trinamool Congress, the Left parties and the AIADMK slammed the government, particularly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for making Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes invalid and said the "ill-timed" and "ill-conceived" step had severely hit the common people, the farmers and the poor.