While addressing a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at his political rivals for their criticism of his government's sudden move to scrap the ₹500 and ₹1000 notes, and claimed that demonetization was entirely for the good of the "poor."
After the emotional line he took while speaking about demonetization in Goa on Sunday, Modi struck a far more aggressive chord today, especially as he lambasting the Congress Party. "Congress also demonetised the 25 paise coin. What was the law? Who did you ask? It is okay that you can't go beyond 25 paise. You did something of your stature, and I did something of mine," Modi said.
Recalling the dark days of the Emergency, Modi said that it was the Congress Party that turned India into a "jail for nineteen months" just to keep Indira Gandhi in power.
Speaking on the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, which is celebrated as Children's Day in India, Modi said that he had fulfilled the wishes of the first prime minister. "Wherever your spirit is Pandit ji, you left after burying the wishes of the poor in files, and even if the members of your family and party abuse me now, I am starting to finish the work which was not completed," he said.
Modi then asked the crowd whether people were willing to bear hardships in order to rid the country of corruption. "After demonetisation, the poor are enjoying a sound sleep while rich are running from pillar to post to buy sleeping pills," he said.
Also on HuffPost India:
