Demonetisation aimed at changing black money into white, says Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Continuing his outburst against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA regime at the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said demonetisation is just a method to change the black money into white and added that he would have been in jail if a single evidence of corruption would have been found against him.   "The government is saying that I have black money. They conducted the Income Tax raid in our homes. They did everything they could, but still were unable to find even a single evidence in favour of the charges made against me. If they would have found it, right now I would have been in jail," Kejriwal. He further said demonetisation is just a method to change the black money into white money, adding it will not make much difference to decrease the level of corruption. "I don't understand how the corruption will decrease by banning Rs. 1000 currency note and bringing the new Rs. 2000 one. Those who think that this is a temporary problem, for their information I want to tell them that not a single currency of black money will come in the system and the corruption is not going to end by this initiative. It is going to increase. Nothing is going to change," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Kejriwal asserted that few corporate houses were informed beforehand about the radical development and called on the Narendra Modi-led government to roll back the scheme. "In the name of demonetisation, a huge scam is being played out. Before Prime Minister Modi announced the move on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its friends had been alerted and they had stashed their cash," Kejriwal said. He said that thousands of crores of rupees have been deposited in bank accounts of some people and corporate houses in the last three months, adding that deposition of such huge amount create suspicions. "What kind of person holds black money in this country? Is it the Adanis, Ambanis, Subhash Chandras and Badals? Or is it rickshawala, cobbler, labourer or farmer?" he asked. On Friday, BJP president Amit Shah asked the Samajwadi Party(SP), the Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) and the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) whether they supported terrorism and black money. "For the past two days, the reactions of different parties are being seen by the people. I want to ask SP chief Mulayam Singh, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and AAP Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that what is bothering them so much? Are they in support of black money or against it? Are you in favor or support of terrorism which runs on fake currency?," Shah said. Earlier on November 8, Prime Minister Modi took a major step and announced demonetisation of Rs. 500 and 1,000 currency notes with effect from midnight, making these notes invalid in a major assault on black money, fake currency and corruption. In his televised address to the nation, the Prime Minister said people holding notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 can deposit the same in their bank and post office accounts from November 10 till December 30. With the people facing trouble after the Centre's move, the government later decided to extend the existing exemptions on paying public utility bills till November 14. In a press release, the government reassured there is enough cash with the RBI and supply of cash to bank branches and ATMs are being stepped up gradually.