Mumbai: Senior social activist Anna Hazare has asked the BJP to heed warnings from its defeat in the Assembly polls of five states. People have given the indication to those in power to be careful or they would be taught a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, he said.

“The government may have forgotten its promises but people have not. It is not clear if they even remember the promises they made but people do remember. The BJP had to face defeat because of many lacunae, assurances were given to people that black money will be brought back, farmers will get a good price for their produce, power will be decentralised and people will get Rs 15 lakh each in their bank accounts. People understood they were false assurances given to come to power," Mr Hazare said.

Terming the BJP government’s decision of demonetisation wrong, the social activist said, it was taken according to the whims. “In a democracy, decisions should be taken after those in power and the Opposition sit together and discuss issues. But in case of demonetisation, it was not done so,” he added.

“People are hassled. How much black money has come out? The RBI said 99 per cent of money returned to the banks. Where is the black money then?” he asked.

Mr Hazare also slammed UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s name changing decisions saying that it was one of the reasons responsible for BJP’s dismal performance.“Lord Ram is not present in temples alone but inside every troubled poor man. Why are you only searching him there? Service of the poor is his worship,” he said.