Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram poke fun at RBI over counting scrapped notes

Congress VP says the govt is looking for a mathematics teacher, one should apply to the PMO soon

The Congress today took a dig at the RBI for still counting banned currency notes, with Rahul Gandhi saying the government is looking for a mathematics teacher and one should apply to the PMO soon.

"GOI looking for a Math tutor. Please apply to PMO ASAP," Gandhi said on Twitter, while tagging a news report quoted to Urjit Patel, the RBI governor, saying the central bank is still counting demonetised notes.

Earlier, senior party leader P Chidambaram took a jibe at the RBI for buying note-counting machines eight months after demonetisation and asked the federal bank if it had heard of "leasing" equipment.

"RBI buying note counting machines 8 months after demonetisation! Has RBI not heard of 'leasing'," he tweeted.

Chidambaram also poked fun at the NDA's Mudra scheme, which the government claims has provided self-employment opportunities to over 7 crore people, especially the youth.

"'7.28 crore youth self-employed under MUDRA loan scheme' — that is title of mythological serial beginning today. Scriptwriters may apply," he posted on Twitter today.

The former finance minister has been critical of the government's demonetisation decision and has said it has hit the country's economy and growth prospects.

RBI Governor Urjit Patel, while appearing before a Parliamentary panel, is understood to have said the deposited banned notes were still being counted and therefore he was not in a position to give a figure on the scrapped currency that was back in the system.

Appearing before the Standing Committee on Finance yesterday, Patel did not provide any "specific number" on the amount of money that had been deposited post-demonetisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.