This is an archive article published on May 21, 2023
Sanjay Raut flays Centre over ‘failed demonetisation’, recalls PM Modi’s statement on being ‘hanged publicly’
In a dig at the Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde, Sanjay Raut said Shinde’s MLAs had received 50 khokas (boxes of money) in Rs 2,000 notes and were now seeking to exchange them.
Sanjay Raut also asked the Centre to clarify why Kiren Rijiju had to step down as law minister. (File)
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Sanjay Raut flays Centre over ‘failed demonetisation’, recalls PM Modi’s statement on being ‘hanged publicly’
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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday hit out at the Union government over the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notesalleging that both demonetisations imposed by the BJP-led Centre have failed, while reminding that over 3,000 people died in queues during the first demonetisation exercise.
Raut also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that he should be hanged in public if demonetisation met with failure. “Both demonetisations imposed by the BJP government have failed… As many as 3,000-3,500 people died due to the decision of the first demonetisation while waiting in bank queues. PM Modi had said that demonetisation will reduce inflation, corruption, black money and terrorism and all. But nothing changed,” Raut said in Mumbai on Sunday.
“Instead, people lost jobs, businesses got shut and corruption, unemployment, black money and inflation and even terrorism has increased. That means demonetisation failed. PM Modi had said that if demonetisation failed, he should be hanged publicly. So now it has failed. What are you going to do? Where should he be hanged? Do you want us to send a rope,” the Sena leader said. Raut added that Modi played with the nation’s economy.
He also took a dig at the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde saying that the MLAs had received 50 khokas (boxes of money) in Rs 2,000 notes and since the notes were withdrawn by the RBI, the Shinde faction was seeking to exchange them. “Poor people do not have Rs 2,000 notes. It is with those traitors. Now they are tense,” Raut lashed out.
Hitting back, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane claimed that Matoshree, the residence of Uddhav Thackeray, has been worried over the past two days since the withdrawal of the Rs 2,000 notes as no one knows how many are hidden at the Sena (UBT) chief’s Karjat farmhouse. “The Thackerays are tense because there may be too many of those notes at the Karjat farmhouse. Thackeray should tell how many notes are buried and hidden at the farmhouse,” Rane said.
Raut also dared the BJP-led government to announce civic body elections. “Why is the government running away from elections? Face the polls if you are so confident of winning the BMC elections with 150 seats,” he said, targeting the BJP over its Mission 150 seats for the polls.
“Forget 150, we will bring down the party to just 60 seats (in BMC polls) if they announce and face the polls now,” the chief spokesperson of Sena (UBT) said.
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The Rajya Sabha MP also asked the Centre to clarify why Kiren Rijiju had to step down as law minister. “Why did Kiren Rijiju have to step down? What was his mistake? Reveal it. You will have to clarify. If you are not going to do it, then we will do it. Was it because of the way the judiciary is being pressurised? Who was pressurising and under which case was the judiciary being pressurised,” he sought to know.
Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
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