Demonetisation | Lack of preparedness by govt led to cash crisis: Subramanian Swamy

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Sunday attributed the prevailing cash crunch to lack of preparedness by the Finance Ministry before demonetising high value currencies.

“The Finance Ministry should have taken precautionary measures before demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes,” he told reporters in Coimbatore.

“The government had decided to go for demonetisation in 2014 itself and the Finance Ministry ought to have done contingency plans. They have not done any preparation and the Prime Minister had announced (demonetisation), assuming that the things will be a smooth,” he said.

Moreover, the size of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currencies was small to accommodate in the ATMs, which was another reason for the problem, he pointed out.

Also read | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal terms demonetisation as a conspiracy of BJP and PM Modi

“Along with demonetisation, the committee headed by me on the issue in 2014 had recommended abolition of income tax, so that the people get relief,” Swamy said.

On stalling of Parliament proceedings, the BJP leader said, “We are not responsible for this, it is Congress which is responsible.”