NCP dubs PM Modi's address to nation as pre-poll budget announcement

Launching a scathing attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has described latter's address to the nation as a 'pre-poll budget announcement'.

"Prime Minister Modi utilized the rights of the Finance Minister and his address to the nation was nothing but a pre-poll budget announcement," NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI.

Malik further said that the way the Prime Minister has spoken to the country in the address, it looked like he was presenting budget to get benefit in the upcoming vidhan sabha elections.

"In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister said that big notes were the reason of corruption, inflation and wrongdoing in the country. After demonetising Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes, the government has started a big note of Rs. 2000, will it reduce corruption or increase it? Prime Minister has to reply this," he said.

"He has not described as how much black money has been recovered and how much problems people of the country faced post demonetisation. He has not given a single scheme for the unemployed youth," he added.

In his 43-minute address, Prime Minister Modi on Saturday announced several schemes for farmers, pregnant women and senior citizens. He has also provided certain exemptions and relief on home loan interest to the poor and middle class.

Saturday's address to the nation came a day after the expiry of 50-day deadline set by the government for people to deposit old high-value currency notes in banks and post offices.

It was Prime Minister Modi's second address to the nation. The first was on November 8 when he announced the scrapping of Rs. 1,000 and Rs.500 currency notes.