Demonetisation: Centre must come out with 'white paper', demands Arvind Kejriwal

Hours after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Annual Report for 2017-18, saying  as 99.3 per cent of the junked Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had returned to the banking system, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the  people of the country suffered “immensely” due to demonetisation and demanded that the Centre should come out with a “white paper” on what was achieved through it.

People suffered immensely due to demonetization. Many died. Business suffered. People have a rt to know - what was achieved thro demonetization? Govt shud come out wid a white paper on the same. https://t.co/q61fil4KgX

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 29, 2018

In 2017, the AAP chief, calling demonetisation the “scam of all scams” had demanded an independent inquiry on it.

Also Read | RBI releases annual report for 2017-18, says 99.3 per cent of demonetised notes returned to banks

The RBI on Wednesday said that as much as 99.3 per cent of the junked notes had returned to the banking system.

“Of the Rs 15.41 lakh crore worth Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in circulation on November 8, 2016, when the note ban was announced, notes worth Rs 15.31 lakh crore have been returned.This meant just Rs 10,720 crore of the junked currency did not return to the system,” RBI said.

Meanwhile, the Congress also demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly lying to the country over the demonetisation issue.

Also Read | Congress demands PM apology for allegedly lying to the country

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2017 Independence Day speech had claimed that more than Rs 3 lakh crore unaccounted money will come back to the system.

“Modiji, will you apologise for that lie now?” Surjewala asked.

(With inputs from PTI)