Kapil Sibal seeks probe into demonetisation

Mumbai: A day before Congress’s nationwide agitation against demonetisation, senior party leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday demanded that a judicial probe should be conducted into the matter. He termed it as a huge scam and a conspiracy by the BJP. 

Pointing out that Rs 14.97 lakh crore is back in the banking system out of Rs 15.15 lakh crore, Mr Sibal asked where the black money went. “How did this happen. Has the alleged black money become legitimate? This cannot happen without conspiracy of the ruling BJP and banking institutions,” Mr Sibal alleged. 

The Congress leader attacked Modi over demonetisation and said that the Prime Minister should justify the decision. “If the money which is deposited in the banks is not black money, what is the fight to curb black money which Modi talks about justifying the demonetisation for? We demand a probe by a judicial commission in the demonetisation scam,” he said.

Congress party’s Mumbai unit is conducting a protest march on January 8 at the Bandra collector’s office against demonetisation. The agitation would be conducted all across the state at various locations. Criticising Modi for not been able to give the desired results out of demonetisation, Mr Sibal said that the Prime Minister should declare what punishment he would accept and where.

Mr Sibal also targeted the Centre for its decision to announce budget in advance and alleged that it is eyeing Assembly elections in five states. “What was the need for declaring the budget in advance when the allocations will be implemented from April 1? We have petitioned the election commission who in turn has sought a response from the Centre,” he said. 

The Congress leader warned that his party would raise the issue in the budget session and make the government explain. “Modi did not speak in the monsoon session. We want him to reply to our charges in the Parliament and not outside,” he said.