Opposition disrupted Parliament to defend the dishonest: PM

Stepping up attack on opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged that Parliament was not allowed to function as rival parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on issues like graft and simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assemblies.

He also hailed the efforts of the Election Commission to get rid of black money from electoral system and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes it.

Addressing BJP's 'parivartan rally' in Kanpur, he also said that some politicians had tried to "provoke" people standing in ATM queues, but their designs did not succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

"Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled," Modi said, days after the winter session ended in a washout due to the standoff over demonetisation.

He said he given a suggestion at an all-party meeting convened before the winter session of Parliament that a debate should be held on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties.

"But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue," the prime minister said.

He said "earlier, the opposition would disrupt Parliament as they wanted to expose the corrupt and bring out scams. But this time, Parliament was disrupted as opposition wanted to defend the dishonest and hence were running away from debate."

Singling out the Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that late Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India.

"But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor people do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies," the prime minister said.

He said that the Congress has always shied away from being accountable to the people and recalled a saying about then AICC Treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point.

"Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi (neither accounts nor ledgers, only thing that matters is what is said by Kesri)," he said.

Modi told the gathering that the decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes has shown that there are two sides in the country -- one consisting of a "handful" of people who have been defending those who exploit the middle class and snatch the right of the poor and the other comprising of those who are fighting corruption and the scourge of black money.

Attacking the Akhilesh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh, Modi alleged that "goons are troubling the people openly as they have the blessings of those in power in the state".

He hoped that people of the sate will "vote for change" in the assembly polls due early next year.

The prime minister asked people to spread the word that government is beginning a lucky draw scheme for people using cards and E-wallets for purchases and merchants accepting digital payments.

He said only those who buy anything between Rs 50 and Rs 3000 will be eligible for the draw as it is meant to encourage the common man and not the rich.

Photograph: PTI Photo