Modi in Himachal: Indira Gandhi didn't go for demonetisation when needed, so I had to

Passing the buck to Congress, PM Modi on Sunday accused former PM Indira Gandhi of not going for a notes ban when needed and said he would not have had to carry out this big task had she taken the step years ago.

Modi, at a rally in poll bound Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu said, “burning effigies will not deter him from carrying forward the fight against corruption and black money”.

He was responding to the November 8 protest call by the Congress on the first anniversary of demonetisation.

PM Modi said that over 3 lakh companies have shut down after demonetisation and a probe into 5,000 such firms has found a fraud of Rs. 4,000 crore while investigation against others was on.

He said the Congress is "angry" at demonetisation as it is still feeling its effect and cited it as the reason for the party's "mourning" by giving a public protest call.

"Few people who faced the heat of demonetisation are still complaining and are planning to observe November 8 as 'black day'. The Congress cannot scare me by burning my effigies," he said a well-attended poll rally in Kullu.

"The Congress is planning to observe 'mourning' in the coming week. It has nothing to do except grieve in the coming days. I do not fear burning of my effigies. My fight against corruption will not stop," he also said at another rally in Palampur.

PM Modi said note ban had disturbed the sleep of Congressmen and their anger has not cooled, alleging they had big bags and garages full of notes which were banned due to his decision.

The opposition parties, including the Congress, have said they would observe November 8 as "black day" across the country by organising protests and effigy burning, besides candlelight marches.

The Prime Minister alleged that Indira Gandhi refused to carry out notes ban after a panel headed by Yashwantrao Chavan recommended it, alleging she kept her party's interests over that of the nation.

Modi also accused the Congress of undermining national interest over party’s and for Congress  it was never 'dal se bada desh' (country bigger than party).

(With PTI inputs)