Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stirred up a controversy after he made a remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation by the Reserve Bank of India. Addressing a press conference in Bengal’s Murshidabad on Monday, Chowdhury slammed the Central government over the withdrawal of the currency notes and accused PM Modi of “worsening” the financial situation of the country.
"Again, all of a sudden, he (PM Modi) announced the scrapping of Rs 2,000 notes. He is not Modi, he is 'Pagla Modi'. People are calling him 'Pagla Modi'. The country's economy is already dwindling and he has further taken this step to worsen the situation. Now, Rs 2000 notes will not run in the market,” he said.
"The people are completely frustrated with this government. Now, people are raising their voice, they are saying that everyone (political parties) will have to come together under Congress' leadership to fight against them (BJP)," he added.
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced to withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes from circulation, but added they will continue to remain as legal tender.
The Bharatiya Janata Party reacted to Chowdhury’s statement and demanded his apology. Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar called him a “repeat offender.”
“Congress leader Adhir Ranjan abuses PM @narendramodi ji again & calls him ‘Pagla’.He has used the abusive language again and again. He is a repeat offender,” Majumdar tweeted.
“I strongly condemn this. He should apologise immediately,” he added.
In its Friday announcement, the RBI advised banks to stop issuing Rs 2,000 denomination bank notes with immediate effect.
It, however, said that citizens will continue to be able to deposit Rs 2000 banknotes into their bank accounts and/or exchange them into banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch up to September 30, 2023