EC should work on simultaneous polls: Narendra Modi

Lucknow/Kanpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the Opposition did not allow Parliament to function in its effort to defend the dishonest and run away from a debate on corruption.

Addressing a BJP rally in poll-bound UP’s Kanpur, the PM also hailed and welcomed the Election Commission’s efforts to rid the electoral system of black money.

“I also urge the Election Commission to take up the idea of having simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, and talk to other political parties because too many elections stall the process of development and cause financial a burden,” he said.

He said that some politicians had tried to “provoke” people standing in ATM queues, but their designs did not succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

The government’s November 8 currency replacement move to fight black money and fake currency led to a cash crunch, and queues have stayed outside low-on-cash banks and ATMs, even resulting in a string of deaths caused by chaos.

“Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to disrupt Parliament...I am puzzled,” Mr Modi said, days after the Winter Session ended in a washout due to the standoff over demonetisation.

Thanking people for “supporting his demonetisation drive”, he said most wanted honesty in the system and his government was working towards it. “It is only a few who thrive in corrupt practices and they are the ones who criticise us. After November 8, the strength of `100 has increased while that of `500 and `1,000 has been finished,” he said.

He said he had given a suggestion at an all-party meeting convened before the Winter session that a debate should be held on simultaneous elections and political funding. “But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the Opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue,” the PM said.

“Congress leaders often claimed that late Rajiv Gandhi brought computers and mobile phones to the common man. But now when I say mobile phones can be used for banking, they say the poor do not have cell phones...They first said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...They are spreading lies,” the PM said.

The PM’s comments comes as the Opposition has sharpened its attack on the government, saying the drive to promote digital transactions was a move to cover up “no real black money windfall” for the economy.

The PM however said the Congress always shied away from being accountable to the people, and recalled a saying about then AICC treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point. “Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi (neither accounts nor ledgers, only thing that matters is what Kesri says),” he said.

Mr Modi said that he had travelled across Uttar Pradesh recently and sensed a “storm of change”. He said, “If the youth of Uttar Pradesh come together, nothing can stop India from progressing.”

He said that the people of UP were weary of anti-social elements being patronised by those in the government. He said that a change in the government was necessary to bring a change in Uttar Pradesh.