Rahul to travel across country reflecting on pain, anguish caused by demonetisation: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said party vice-president Rahul Gandhi will travel across the country "reflecting on the pain and anguish of the people" post the government's demonetisation drive and added that the party will persuade and force government to ensure the situation returns to normalcy.

"Rahul Gandhi is travelling to various sections, meeting with people to know their pain and grief. He just went to Uttar Pradesh to meet farmers. In days to come, he will travel across the country reflecting on the pain and anguish of the people," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

He said the Congress MPs, leaders, including vice-president will be reflecting on the pain of the common people, persuade and force the government to ensure that situation returns to normal.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should leave his ego aside and should understand the pain of the people and should take out some solution of the problem," he said.

Earlier in the day, Rahul once again targeted the Centre over demonetisation, saying Prime Minister Modi's decision to scrap Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes has questioned the honesty of the 'honest' Indian farmers.

"A farmer needs money for seeds and fertilizers. India's farmer is the most honest. He does not have any black money. He only puts in his sweat and blood in his work. Narendra Modi ji's demonetisation has inflicted a major injury on farmers. A farmer's honesty has been questioned," he said.

"You all know that NDA Government is attacking the farmers. Under the move of demonetisation, co-operative banks have not been allowed to exchange money," he added.

Launching another attack on the Centre, the Congress vice-president said that the recent ban on import duty on wheat has increased the pain of farmers even more.

"The government has further doubled the pain of farmers by removing import duty on wheat. So we want the government to listen to them," he said.

Gandhi also put forward the three demands raised by farmers.

"We want Narendra Modi ji to listen to farmers' problems - waive off their loans, make electricity prices half and make them get appropriate cost for their produce," said the Congress vice-president.

Using his self-coined phrase for the Modi government, 'Suit-Boot Sarkaar', Gandhi asked the Centre to address farmers' woes.

"Farmers of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and of entire India have told us that they want Narendra Modi ji's 'suit-boot sarkaar' to think about them once and waive off their loans," he said.