Scars of demonetisation getting more visible with time, says Manmohan

Modi with Manmohan Singh file (File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his predecessor Manmohan Singh | PTI

A slew of opposition leaders slammed the Narendra Modi government's economic policies on Wednesday as the nation marked the second anniversary of the NDA government's controversial decision to ban Rs 500- and Rs 1,000-denomination notes in 2016.

The Congress has called for nationwide protests on Friday to mark the second anniversary of demonetisation, with demonstrations at all district and state headquarters by its supporters. The main rally in Delhi will be a candle-light march from Jantar Mantar to the headquarters of the Reserve Bank of India. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is expected to participate in the protests.

On Thursday, the Congress circulated a statement from former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who described demonetisation as a an "ill-fated" and "ill-thought" exercise. "Today is a day to remember how economic misadventures can roil the nation for a long time and understand that economic policy making should be handled with thought and care... It is often said time is a great healer but unfortunately in the case of demonetisation, the scars and wounds of demonetisation are only getting more visible with time,” Singh said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described demonetisation as a "dark day". Banerjee tweeted, “Renowned economists, common people and all experts now agree.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called demonetisation a “self-inflicted wound”. He tweeted, “Though the list of financial scams of Modi govt is endless, demonetisation was a self inflicted deep wound on Indian economy which even two years later remains a mystery why the country was pushed into such a disaster ?”