New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday slammed Modi government's demonetisation move saying, it's a surgical strike on the common man, not on black money.
Briefing the press today morning, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief demanded the decision of demonetisation of Rs 500/1000 notes to be rolled back.
Hitting out at the Centre, Kejriwal alleged, in the name of fighting black money a big scam has been given a shape.
The Delhi CM accused PM Modi of passing the crucial decision to some of his 'friends' before announcing it publicly so that they could safely convert their black money into white.
Political parties including, AAP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have been continuously hitting out at PM Modi for taking such a bold decision to tackle the menace of corruption, black money, terrorism and hawala.
BJP president Amit Shah on Friday asserted that rival parties have exposed themselves and shown their true face by criticising the Centre's demonetisation move which, he said, has rattled those with black money and fake currency and made some political parties poor as well.
Meanwhile, reacting to Kejriwal's charges BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Arvind Kejriwal is nothing more than the rumour monger, but rumour is like a humour for India.”
Meanwhile, crores of anxious people massed outside banks and ATMs across the country today for a third day to deposit or exchange their spiked currency or take out cash.
Serpentine queues started forming outside all banks much before they opened, armed with their old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.
Saturday is the third day after banks opened across the country following a day's closure after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday night that 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would no more be legal tender.
The government has extended the use of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes till November 14, in railway ticket booking counters, ticket counters of government buses and airline ticket counters at airports.
The high denomination notes will also be legal tender in Petrol, diesel and CNG gas stations authorised by public sector oil companies, consumer co-operative stores authorised by state or central government.
The government has also extended suspension of fee collection at all toll plazas on national highways till the midnight of November 14.
The demonetised notes can be used for payments towards utility bills by individuals for arrears and current bills, government said, however no advance payments will be allowed using the old currency.
The Reserve Bank of India has assured that there is enough cash available with banks and all arrangements have been made to reach the currency notes all over the country.
