 "Women queue up outside a bank to exchange their old Rs 1000 and 500 notes")
"This government is insensitive. For the past two days, we have seen financial chaos unfold across the country. They have no power to impose withdrawal limits for people's money in banks," Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said hours after BJP chief Amit Shah said that all those criticising the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were supporters of black money.
Accusing Shah of misleading the country, the Congress leader said the centre had failed to caution the people before declaring the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes illegal tenders on November 8.
Picking a hole in the government's propaganda, he said if the government had made prior arrangements, why banks and ATMs have no cash.
Noting that around 60 % of the population including, small traders, shopkeepers, daily wagers and labourers were unnecessarily suffering due to the government's thoughtless decision as they spent hours standing in queues outside banks and ATMs, the Congress said it was the right of the opposition to voice people's concerns.
"We will seek accountability from the government," he added.
Citing an example, Sharma said when the previous UPA government had withdrawn a particular series of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in January 2014, people had been given sufficient notice to exchange their money.
"PM Modi said cautioning the people would have alerted the terrorists and money launderers. That is a silly argument as which terrorist would have gone to the bank to get cash exchanged?," said Sharma.
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The former union minister further took a dig at finance minister Arun Jaitley saying he had suggested to him during a teleconference that farmers should take payments through cheques or use credit cards.
"Is he living in India or somewhere else? Is he aware of ground reality? Does he expect those without bank accounts to take cheques?," asked Sharma adding that bulk of Indian economy operated in cash and it was not illegal.
"As many as 45% people do not have bank accounts and around 75% of such accounts have zero balance," he said adding "Such people who survive on small cash are not criminals."
Questioning the BJP's stance on curbing black money, the Congress leader said that information about new Rs 2,000 notes had leaked before the PM's announcement.
He asked the government to come out with names of all those who made purchases over Rs 5 lakh between October 20 and November 8.
Asking PM Modi and Shah to explain from where they got the Rs 10,000 crore spent in 2014 national poll campaign, Sharma further said the government should give names of all those corporates whose debt exceeded Rs 5,000 crore and who got tax rebates.
