Flashback video: When BJP termed demonetisation 'anti-poor' in 2014

New Delhi: A two-year-old video of BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi addressing a press conference has gone viral in which she termed the UPA government’s decision to scrap old currency notes as a "strongly anti-poor" move. BJP had opposed the UPA government's decision in 2014 to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005. Lekhi as an Opposition leader vociferously targeted the Centre and Finance Minister P Chidambaram on its impact on the common people. She had then said the present scheme does nothing to remove black money from circulation.

“The present government is unable to measure the correct quantum of black money as those who have black money will convert into new currency notes and the sufferers are the aam aurats and the aam aadmis. Those who are illiterate and have no access to the banking facilities will be the ones affected by such diversionary measures," Lekhi had then said. "The latest gimmick of finance ministry to demonetise the notes before 2005 is an attempt to obfuscate the issue of black money stashed outside the country... This measure is strongly anti-poor," she added. RBI governor Raghuram Rajan at that time said that the 2014 move wasn't "an attempt to demonetise. It is an attempt to replace less effective notes with more effective notes..." The BJP in the current scenario is now at the receiving end from the Opposition which says the new decision is to cover up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "failure" in reining in black money.