Addressing the Indian community in Kobe, Japan. Modi said “this government will do everything to protect the interests of honest citizens.”
He said that after the window offered in September for people to declare their unaccounted wealth, Rs 125 lakh crore was received by banks. "If after this you think that the situation remains like before then it's not my fault," he said, adding that after the demonetization scheme, "there is no guarantee that more won't follow".
Acknowledging the problems caused to millions of Indians due to the demonetization decision, Modi said that this is a cleanliness campaign and it is not meant to cause inconvenience to anyone.
Modi saluted Indians for accepting the decision despite facing inconvenience.
“I salute each & every Indian. Many families had weddings, health problems...yes they faced inconvenience but they accepted the decision,” he said.
The Opposition had slammed Modi for "taking this decision in haste", to which he said, "This is not an overnight decision, first we had brought in a scheme. Its not that no opportunity was given, it was given."
Key takeaways from PM Modi's speech below: