If someone thinks people support demonetisation, he is living in fool's paradise: Manish Tewari

New Delhi: The Congress leader Manish Tewari has been in news recently for attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. First, he called the PM Modi as "modern day Tughlak" over the later's notes ban move and very recently questioned the appointment of Lt General Bipin Rawat as Army Chief, after he superseded other two officials. ABP Live's Anurag Kumar has taken an in-depth interview of Manish Tewari, who is also a lawyer by profession. He has spoken in detail on topics like demonetisation, Punjab elections and others. Here's what he said: Q1) What is the main reason for the defeat of the Congress in the Municipal election in Chandigarh? Mr. Tewari: Well I don't want to comment on that but want to say that local body elections are fought on the local issue. They are not fought on either state or national issues. So if someone is thinking the municipal election is a referendum on demonetisation and people are supporting notes ban, then they are living in cuckoo land. They are living in fool's paradise. Q2) Do you think Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal is responsible for the Congress' defeat in Chandigarh? Mr. Tewari: I will refrain myself from commenting on this. Q3) There are reports that there are two camps in Punjab, one supporting Mr Bansal and other supporting you, is it true? Mr. Tewari: There are no camps. Yes there are people who have different points of views about a particular issue. Q4) What are the chances of the Congress in Punjab state election? Mr. Tewari: People are fed up with the Akalis, they want a change. Two parties are offering that change-Congress and AAP. AAP is the new kid on the block and their governance record in Delhi also is not good. Congress has a credible record and so the party has best chance. Q5) Will you contest Punjab state election? Mr. Tewari: If party fields me, I'm more than willing to contest. Q6) Your comments of Sahara-Birla diaries. Mr. Tewari: In the November of 2013, search and seizure were carried out in one of the Birla companies. Some papers and emails were recovered. On the basis of that, an appraisal report was prepared by the I-T department. But that appraisal report was never actioned. Subsequently, in the November of 2014, there were another search and seizure by I-T department in the premises of the Sahara companies. Again some papers were seized and they allegedly contained the same of certain people to whom alleged payoffs were made. One of the names in the list is that of the then CM of Gujarat Narendra Modi who is now the PM of the country. The simple question is when a PM is dragged into something as unsavoury as this, it becomes incumbent upon the PM to clarify that is there any truth in it. Q7) Your comments on demonetisation. Mr. Tewari: Demonetisation is per se illegal. Under 262 of the RBI Act, 1934 government does not have the authority to demonetise an entire denomination. It only has the authority to demonetise a particular party of that currency. Or a particular series of a particular denomination. So what the government has done by executive action is completely illegal. Number two, what has been done should had been done by ordinance/legislation. Under 241 of the RBI Act 1934, the denomination of currencies, which can be in circulation, are specified. Rs 2000 note is not the part of that batch which is mentioned in that particular section. So without amending 241, whether Rs 2000 is legal tender or not remains a question. What is extremely absurd is that without declaring the financial emergency, how can you impose arbitrary limits on withdrawals. Under article 300A of the Constitution of India, currency is movable property and without legislation how can you take away my property. Q8) Opposition is criticising demonetisation. What do you think could be a more better way of dealing with corruption, if not notes ban? Mr. Tewari: Well demonetisation has nothing to do with corruption. If you think you demonetise and get rid of corruption, you living in cuckoo land. Primarily, at some point in time, 86 percent of the currency (which was taken out of the system) will get replaced, new notes will be printed, they will replace the old ones. All what you are doing is putting millions of people through unnecessary pain for five-six months. How it will really bring down corruption as the entire process will restart again. According to me, there is nothing called black money, according to me there are three parallel economies. A formal economy where people pay taxes, a non-formal economy which is less regulated (where people don't pay taxes) and third is the criminal economy. The criminal economy should be dealt with in accordance with law. In as far as the non-formal economy is concerned you have to give it a pathway so that it can come into the formal economy. Q9) You questioned the appointment of new Army Chief. Why? Mr. Tewari: It is something that needs to be explained because every time when there is a supersession in the army, it doesn't go very well within the force. The government must explain what were the compelling reasons of superseding two officers. There have been no answers from the government on that. Q10) How you see the present working of I&B ministry compared to your time? Mr. Tewari: I don't think it is fair to comment on my successors but the fact remains that India does not require I&B ministry. This country has moved beyond this paradigm. Q11) Are we going to see Rahul Gandhi as new president of the Congress party soon? Mr. Tewari: Well...it is for Mrs. Sonia Gandhi to take that call.