Decision on note ban like 'kadak chai'; bad taste for rich, poor love it: Modi

Ghazipur: Terming his decision to ban Rs500 and Rs1000 notes as ‘kadak’ or strong like tea, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday said that the demonetisation has left a bad taste for the rich, while the poor are loving it.

“My decision (to ban Rs500 and Rs1000) is like strong tea that I used to make earlier in my days as a chaiwala. The poor are loving it, while for rich it's bad in taste.”

Modi lauded his government for the decision to demonetise the big notes to root out corruption and black money and said the step had robbed the rich of their sleep.

“After demonetisation, poor enjoying sound sleep, rich running from pillar to post to buy sleeping pills,” Modi said at BJP's Parivartan Yatra in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. He said the move to demonetise big currencies would help bridge the gap between rich and poor in the country.

“Those who are looting the country by stashing away Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, should they not suffer, are we not ready to experience a little hardships to teach a lesson to those cheating the country? We are going to rid the country of cheaters,” Modi said.

Asserting that the poor in the country are supporting his demonetisation decision, Prime Modi took on the opposition parties, especially Congress, saying it is the corrupt who are sleepless now.

Scoffing at opposition for blaming him for the problems being faced by the poor, the Prime Minister said he was better aware of the hardships being faced by commoners. "You (Congress) issue statements. I feel the pulse of the poor," he said.

Lashing out at opposition, he said, "Some political parties are worried after demonitisation...they used to get huge garlands of notes...only option now is to put the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in waste paper basket."

"Some people wear a smile on the face, they even say Modi ji you have done a good job. But they instigate their party workers to oppose my decision," he said, without taking any names. His apparent reference was to leaders of BSP, SP and AAP who have been critical of the move.

Modi said the action will affect very powerful people people but he is prepared to fight for the poor. "I know I will face a lot of hardships as those having lots of cash are very powerful people but I have undertaken this fight for the poor," he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders erupted with anger over the Prime Minster’s speech.

Countering Modi’s claim that the move was essential to tackle fake currency and funding for the terror networks, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “No one carries bags to fund terrorism, it is more via online transfers.”

He also wondered why the Prime Minister did not make the list of black money holder’s public. “PM himself in 2014 said that 90% black money is stashed abroad and that he has list of names of these black money holders. Yet he is not making them public,” he said.

“Nobody is accepting this new currency, so what is the use of introducing them? Government should allow old currency notes of Rs 500/1000 for public utility and state utility,” he added.

Meanwhile Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “PM said poor are sleeping peacefully. This is an insult to commoners and in bad taste. Do not to hit common people like this.”