Demonetisation will lead to large-scale job loss: Cong

Congress today hit out at the government for "two-third reduction" in tax on black money and warned that demonetisation could lead to large-scale job loss in the country.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also claimed that the opposition was united in highlighting the plight of the common man in the wake of demonetisation and brushed aside talks of differences with its ally JD-U, with whom it is in government in Bihar.
JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, who has been skipping a key meeting of all opposition parties since Monday, today attended the all-party meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

All opposition parties, including arch-rivals TMC and Left parties, SP, BSP, and JD-U are together with Congress on issue of demonetisation and struck to their demands of holding discussion in Parliament.
"Has this government started closing businesses and employments along with demonetisation? You have reduced 132 per cent tax on black money to 50 per cent and are claiming you have achieved a big thing. You have reduced two-third reduction in penalty on black money. Whose trumpet are you blowing?," Singhvi asked.
He claimed that 10 lakh jobs have been cut and asked, "What policy and achievements are we talking about?".

The imposition of Rs 24,000 limit per week on withdrawals from savings bank accounts and Rs 10,000 per month on Jan Dhan accounts will lead to closure of businesses and job losses, he alleged.

"What kind of policy is this? This is resulting in ending employments and businesses. What achievements are you talking about. We require answers to the questions raised by us. We are bound to ask these questions," Singhvi said.
Rejecting differences with JD-U's Nitish Kumar over demonetisation, the Congress leader said it is common place in last 20 years in the political establishment that issue-based differences, state-based alliances and centre-based adjustments are three separate things.

"This is an issue-based support. They are very much a part of the alliance. On an issue like this there is bound to be a difference, but he is with us.
"While agreeing in principle on demonetisation, Nitish Kumar is agreeing with us 90 per cent on other issues. He is standing in the same boat as us in practice," he said.
Singhvi said "we have a rare degree of unanimity across the country, across warring political parties that demonetisation is bad. Even a person like Mamata Banerjee is ready to hold the hand of the Left on this."
To a question on Ramvilas Paswan claiming Bihar government will not last 2.5 years, he said it is clear that he is playing politics.

To a question on PM asking all party MPs to submit their bank details to Amit Shah after demonetisation, he said, "You will not get a reply. You will get a jumla in answer. We have not yet received a reply on the huge cash amount submitted into bank accounts in West Bengal by BJP.