Two types of Rs 500 notes? Congress accuses BJP-led NDA govt in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Waving Rs 500 currency notes allegedly having different sizes, designs and features, the Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP-led NDA government of printing two different notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 post-demonetisation, one for the government and the other for the ruling party, and termed it the “biggest scam of the century”.

The issue rocked Parliament as the Rajya Sabha witnessed six adjournments, with Congress members shouting slogans like farzi noton ki sarkar nahin chalegi, before the House was adjourned for the day. Interestingly, the JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, whose party is now with the NDA, also joined the Congress in demanding an explanation from the government on the issue while Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Narendra Modi government had no right to remain in power for even five minutes.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul also joined the Congress members in raising the issue. The Samajwadi Party staged a walkout in support, while the Congress vowed it would keep flagging the issue in Parliament until the government comes out with an explanation.

“We have discovered why this government took a decision on demonetisation (of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November last year) ... these (waving a photocopy of Rs 500 notes) have different sizes, different designs and different features ... this is misuse of power ... the Prime Minister should explain in Parliament how it happened,” said the Congress’ Kapil Sibal, who raised the issue on a point of order. Congress members were then seen passing each other the Rs 500 notes.