PM slams critics of demonetisation, says they did not get time

Hitting out at those accusing the government of not being prepared for demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they are actually pained that they themselves did not get time to make any preparation.
Had these people got even 72 hours, they would have lavished praise, he said a day after the opposition launched a massive attack on the government over the issue.
Speaking at a book launch event here, Modi said there has been little criticism of the demonetisation decision.
"But still some people are criticising saying that the government did not make ample preparation. I think that is not the issue that the government did not make ample preparation. I think the pain of such people is that the government did not not give a chance to make any preparation," Modi said.

"If these people had got 72 hours to make their preparation then they would have lavished praise that there is no one like Modi," he stressed.
The Prime Minister observed that these days the country is fighting a big battle against corruption and black money and the ordinary citizen is the "soldier" in this fight.

In the last 70 years those who have misused the laws and Constitution have mired the country in corruption, he said.
Noting that India's name features prominently in global corruption surveys which is not something to be proud of, he said, "To hold the nation's head high some decisions have to be taken."

Defending the frequent changes being made in rules after
demonetisation, Modi said "the government, being a sensitive government, amends rules as required, keeping the convenience of the people as its foremost consideration, so that citizens are not subjected to hardships."
Terming this war against corruption as "an extraordinary one", he said the forces involved in "this murky enterprise of perfidy and corruption" have to be defeated as they are devising new tactics to thwart government's efforts every day.
"To counter these new offensives, we too have to devise appropriate new responses and anti-dotes. When the opponents keep on trying out new tactics, we have to counteract decisively since we have resolved to eradicate the corrupt, shady businesses and black money," he said.

Lauding the public for their support in exposing the wrong-doings of some, who are devising "newer wily ways and means" to counter the fight against corruption, the Prime Minister sought more public support.
"Everyday many new people are being taken into custody, currency notes are being seized, raids are being carried out. Influential persons are being caught. The secret is that my sources of such information are people themselves.
"Information being received from common citizens is many times higher than that being obtained through government machinery," he said, adding that people were taking risks to expose such elements. He asked them to share such information on e-mail address of the government as also on the MyGov App.

Modi also talked about the Benami Property law that came into being in 1988, but neither its rules were framed, nor was it notified and laid dormant for years.
"We have retrieved it and turned it into an incisive law against 'Benami Property'. In the coming days, this law will also become operational. For the benefit of the nation, for the benefit of the people, whatever needs to be done will be accorded our top priority," he said.
The Prime Minister, however, lauded both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for passage of the Disabilities Bill to secure the rights of disabled and also their honour and dignity. The new law, he said, is in consonance with the spirit expressed by the United Nations.

He also wished the people on Christmas and remembered former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on his birthday while wishing him good health and long life.
Modi also congratulated the Indian Cricket team for its emphatic 4-0 victory over England, as also the performances of some young players like Karun Nair who scored a triple century, K L Rahul for scoring a brilliant 199, besides the leadership provided by Captain Virat Kohli and off-spin bowler R Ashwin. He also complimented the Junior Hockey Team for lifting the World Cup and the Indian Women's Hockey Team that won the Asian Champions Trophy.