Shiv Sena calls out BJP's contradictory opinion on demonetization

The Shiv Sena has called out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its ministers' contradictory opinions on demonetisation, a day after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the poor were "hit hard" by the decision.

"The common man has suffered from demonetisation; this is an admission by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. We take Gadkari's words seriously because he is known for his straight-forwardness, but at the same time, another senior leader Arun Jaitley has put forth a different opinion," said an editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, 'Saamna'.

The editorial said that only a party spokesperson could clarify as to whose statement should be taken for the truth.

It further claimed that the government has refused to admit to the failure of demonetisation, despite admissions by prominent political leaders, as well as the former governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Raghuram Rajan.

The Shiv Sena added that Rajan was compelled to step down for objecting to demonetisation, and was even labelled as a greedy and an incompetent financial expert.

"At that time, it was said that Rajan is a greedy and incompetent economic expert, but the same man was nominated for a Nobel Prize for his contribution in the field of Economics," the editorial said, condemning the "removal" of Rajan from his post

The editorial claimed that demonetisation was a conspiracy to convert black money into white money, and help the rich get richer.

Through the editorial, the Shiv Sena also congratulated Gadkari for admitting that poor have suffered, and added that the admission was a favour to the poor people of the country.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday reportedly said that the poor "faced a hard time post demonetisation, but that they were happy to see the rich having a tough time as well because of their black money getting flushed out.