BJP had called demonetisation 'anti-poor' in 2014

The BJP had in 2014 opposed the then Congress government's move to demonetise all pre-2005 currency notes, calling the decision "anti-poor".

Then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had in January 2014 announced the demonetisation in a bid to curb black money.

Then BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi had called the decision a "gimmick" and said that it was an attempt to divert the issue of black money stashed in offshore accounts, a video recording of that period showed.

Calling the decision "strongly anti-poor", Lekhi said it would not affect those who had accounts in Swiss banks but those who do not have any bank account even in India.

"Those who have black money will actually convert it into new currency notes. Now the sufferers are the 'aam aurats' and 'aam aadmis' who are illiterate and don't have access to banking facilities," she had said.

"People who have small savings, no banking accounts. Their life savings will be targeted."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that all 500 and 1,000 currency notes would cease to be legal tender from midnight. The move has led to huge crowds thronging banks and ATMs across India to deposit their spiked currency or withdraw cash.

--IANS

vv/mr