Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala attacked the Prime Minister for avoiding Parliament and not answering to concerns raised by elected representatives.
"Modiji has now given a new 'jumla' of tiding over the colossal crisis within 50 days. PM needs to traverse the distance from 'rhetoric' to 'reality' for the nation to progress, develop and move ahead," he said.
"By a single unwitting and disastrous decision, Prime Minister Modi has demonetised the entire nation."
"In last 19 days have seen tragic deaths of 80 innocent individuals. What was their fault? Why is ordinary Indian not permitted to withdraw his/her hard-earned money from their own account?
More From This Section
"Government must tell which one out of these is a thief and who, out of them, is hoarding black money? Crores of people standing in lines outside banks/ATMs are neither thieves nor black money hoarders," he said, adding that Modi must answer these questions raised.
Surjewala said Modi promised to bring back Rs 80 lakh crore of black money from abroad within 100 days and deposit Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's account, but even after a lapse of nearly 1000 days, "this has become a 'jumla'".
The Congress leader said the entire informal sector comprising 90 per cent of India is in deep distress and paralysed on account of the demonetisation decision.
He added that the small and medium industries are shutting down with jobs being lost on a daily basis as a result of demonetisation.
The embargo on all cooperative banks, rural development banks, primary land development banks and cooperative credit societies from either changing money or dispensing new notes has hurt the agricultural economy.
Surjewala said the Modi government has not demonetised the
currency but in reality has ended up demonetising the economy, the jobs, demonetising the trade and businesses, demonetising the agricultural and rural sectors and essentially demonetising the people of India.
"Blinded by the arrogance of numbers, Narendra Modi is unable to fathom the pain and anger of India's 125 crore people for wiping out their livelihood and creating a colossal sense of fear and insecurity. As pointed out rightly by former PM Manmohan Singh in Parliament, demonetisation is a case of 'organised loot and legalised plunder'," he said.
Hitting out at Modi for not speaking in Parliament, the Congress leader said, "He indulges in theatrics - laughing at people's misery and shedding crocodile tears when cornered, but has no time or accountability to the temple of democracy i.E. Parliament. It is time that Narendra Modi answers some important questions."
He said crores of people are standing in lines outside banks/ATMs are neither thieves nor black money hoarders and government must tell which one out of these is a thief and who, out of them, is hoarding black money?
He also asked why ordinary Indians are not permitted to withdraw his/her hard-earned money from their own account as no law permits such a dictate as is being forced upon people by Modi government in violation of the Constitution.
He said demonetisation will deeply hurt the national income, lead to a decline in GDP of 2 per cent to 3 per cent, discourage private investments (which are already falling in two years of Modi government) and suck money out of the system.