Congress accuses BJP of converting huge amount of black money into white post DeMo

“11 District Cooperative Banks in Gujarat which are run by BJP leaders oversaw deposits worth of ₹14,300cr in just 5 days during Demonetisation”

BJP Amit Shah . (PTI Photo/ File)

NEW DELHI: Levelling serious allegations against BJP chief, the Congress on Friday demanded a probe*into reports that notes worth Rs 745.58 crore were deposited in Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank, where Amit Shah is a director, within five days of demonetisation exercise announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress also alleged that the demonetisation order by the government turned out to be the biggest scam and instead of eradicating black money, it has helped convert black into white. Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said “5 days after Demonetisation, all co-operative banks were banned from accepting demonetised notes with the pretense of preventing money laundering from them. But many cooperative banks run by BJP leaders had already received deposits”. He further claimed that “11 District Cooperative Banks in Gujarat which are run by BJP leaders oversaw deposits worth of ₹14,300cr in just 5 days during Demonetisation” Also, “Ahmadabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCB), where @BJP4India President @AmitShah is the Director, secured deposits worth ₹745.59cr of demonetised notes in just 5 days after PM @narendramodi announced Demonetisation” Surjewala added. He further said that “Rajkot District Cooperative Bank got deposits worth ₹693.19cr of demonetised notes. Its chairman is Jayeshbhai Vitthalbhai Radadiya, who is a cabinet minister in Gujarat government”. Even Congress President took to his Twitter and said “Congratulations Amit Shah ji , Director, Ahmedabad Dist. Cooperative Bank, on your bank winning 1st prize in the conversion of old notes to new race. 750 Cr in 5 days! Millions of Indians whose lives were destroyed by Demonetisation, salute your achievement”.

Congratulations Amit Shah ji , Director, Ahmedabad Dist. Cooperative Bank, on your bank winning 1st prize in the conversion of old notes to new race. 750 Cr in 5 days!

Millions of Indians whose lives were destroyed by Demonetisation, salute your achievement. #ShahZyadaKhaGaya pic.twitter.com/rf1QaGmzxV — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 22, 2018

However, just before the Congress made the demand, NABARD issued a statement, saying that the average deposit amount in the Ahmedabad DCCB was Rs 46,795 per account holder, which is lower than the average per depositor in 18 DCCBs of Gujarat. NABARD, or National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, is the country's apex financing agency for institutions that promote rural development. The NABARD statement also said that during the period 1.60 lakh customers of the bank deposited/exchanged demonetised notes worth Rs 746 crore which was only 15 per cent of the total deposits of the bank. The BJP cited the NABARD statement to say that the Ahmedabad DCCB was one of the biggest in the country and that it was not out of the ordinary for it to collect such an amount. (With inputs from PTI