Arun Jaitley, Rahul Gandhi lead from front to target opposite camps

NEW DELHI: Amid continuing standoff between the government and Opposition in Parliament over the issue of currency recall, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi led from the front to take potshots at the opposite camps. The first round was fired by Gandhi who targeted PM Modi by terming demonetisation as a “foolish decision”. Within hours, Jaitley challenged Congress to name “one single step” the previous UPA government had “taken against black money in its 10-year rule.”

The day started on a stormy note with the Opposition MPs staging a dharna — to mark the 30th day of note recall — in front of the Gandhi statue wearing black badges and raising slogans against the Modi regime. Speaking to the media, Gandhi said: “The Prime Minister took this socalled bold decision. The bold decision can also be a foolish decision. And this was a foolish decision. He (PM) is switching from one issue to another — from black money to terrorism to cashless economy. We are going to catch him inside the House. He is not going to be able to run inside the House.” He added: “There is this concept of PayTM. ‘Pay to Modi’, that’s the idea behind cashless economy.”

Later, Jaitley used the Lok Sabha platform — which briefly debated and passed the mandatory Supplementary Demand for Grants and related Bills amid din — to counter the Congress charges. “I today challenge them (Congress) to spell out a single step that they had taken during their 10-year rule against black money.”

Opening for Rahul speech?
Congress camp is pushing for a belated truce on the LS floor, mainly with the aim of facilitating an “opening” for Gandhi to deliver a speech. Congress has left it on the Speaker to decide the rule under which the debate can start. A section of the government said “Rahul can’t have his way, and if at all debate happens, PM Modi may take on him.”