Kejriwal wants demonetisation rolled back

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called for an immediate roll back of the demonetisation decision which has led to cash chaos across the country.

Speaking in the Delhi assembly, the Aam Aadmi Party leader also demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the entire exercise.

"The house resolves to urge upon the President of India to direct the government to withdraw at once the draconian demonetisation scheme," he said, reading out a resolution.

Kejriwal also sought "necessary steps to institute a high level probe to be monitored by the Supreme Court to look into the allegations that the scheme is a fraud on the nation and it has been launched to benefit a particular political party through its agents in the black money market".

He told the house that the November 8 announcement to spike the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes had caused misery to ordinary people.

Saying he had gone around Delhi, Kejriwal pointed out that many people were standing in long queues outside banks and ATMs to deposit or change the old currency or withdraw money from their accounts.

"Some people are queuing up the whole night... Everyone is in the queues. Even BJP people, Congress people, even Aam Aadmi Party people..."

He said the demonetisation and its aftermath had caused mayhem everywhere.

The AAP leader accused the government of "stubbornness" over the decision and said its "rank incompetence" was evident as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had claimed that 10 months of preparation went into it.

The demonetisation, he added, would lead to "lethal consequences" for the Indian economy and honest people.

--IANS

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