In an attack on Prime Minister Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed demonetization as “not a good” initiative. He further stated that he would have thrown it in the dustbin if he was the prime minister.
Gandhi was in Kuala Lumpur, making it through his five-day trip to the Southeast Asian countries. He also had an enthusiastic assembly of the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur.
On the question of rolling out demonetization differently, he said-
“If I was the Prime Minister and somebody would have given me a file with demonetization written on it, I would throw it in the dustbin, out of the door and into the junkyard.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetization on November 8, 2016. The act invalidated Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. The Modi government had faced immense criticism saying that the move has led to an economic slowdown.
Gandhi addressed a gathering of young professionals at IYCON in Kuala Lumpur. He also met Mr. Subramaniam Sathasivam, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) in Kuala Lumpur. MIC was originally a part of the AICC until 1946 and had played a major role in the Malaysian Independence Movement.
Gandhi’s foreign trips are to bond with the diaspora. He also met Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and discussed topics on India-Singapore ties.
AICC Overseas cell head Sam Pitroda is looking after the trips. He had earlier helped former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi lead the IT revolution in India. Pitroda had earlier successfully organized Rahul Gandhi’s visits to the US and West Asia.