New Delhi: Slamming the Centre for its demonetisation decision, Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday said the government should focus on those "handful billionaires" who have their black money saved in international lockers instead of troubling millions of common people.
Addressing a discussion on the effects of demonetisation, he said, "Notes becoming black or white does not depend on people, but on the type of transaction. Fight against black money should focus mainly on transactions not the people."
"Every hard-earned penny saved by generations have now become black money. Instead of troubling millions of common people of India, why do we not focus on those handful billionaires who have their black money saved in international lockers," the former Union minister said.
Noting that cash money would come handy to people during times of trouble, he remarked: "Who knew, one day money itself would face troubled times".
Sibal claimed the rich might have either converted their black money into gold or have purchased dollars through hawala transactions and it is the poor who is standing in the queue.
Quoting a statement by the first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1946, he said, "While we Congressmen have no sympathy for profiteers and dealers in black market, it is not right to penalise honest people who in good face have savings in notes of demonetised value."
"As (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is calling us anti-national, would that apply to the first president as well?" asked Sibal.
Besides talking about the effects of demonetisation, Sibal also jabbed the PM "for not passing Lokpal bill even two years after taking charge".
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