Varied sizes jeopardize credibility of currency notes: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday said variations in the sizes, designs and features in same series of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes "jeopardize the credibility of the currencies" and confuse citizens about their authenticity.

The party also demanded a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why there were variations in features and sizes in the same series of notes.

Indicating "criminal negligence and criminal culpability" on the part of the government, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said Modi's objectives behind demonetisation were yet to be achieved.

"We have been trying to figure out the real motive behind the sudden and secret move of the government to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes," Sibal told the media here.

"The objectives mentioned by the Prime Minister have clearly not been achieved," he asserted.

Sibal said: "Different sizes of currency notes jeopardize the credibility of India's currency and has huge global ramifications. Citizens will be confused about their authenticity."

He mentioned that the standard size of the new currency notes as indicated on the official website of the Reserve Bank of India was 66 mm X 150 mm for Rs 500 and 66 mm X 156 mm for Rs 2,000 notes.

"Where were notes of significantly different sizes printed? Nowhere in the world are currency notes of whatever denomination of different sizes," Sibal maintained.

--IANS

sid-mg/in/vt