Centre stealing from Reserve Bank of India now, it won't help: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Centre is now stealing from the Reserve Bank of India; his comment came after the RBI decided to transfer a record high surplus of Rs 1,76,051 crore to the government.

Slamming the move, Rahul Gandhi expressed his disappointment on Twitter and said: "Rs. 1.76 lakh cr given to the govt by RBI is almost the exact same amount missing from Budget 2019 announcement. Where was that money spent? Why was it missing from the Budget?"

"Looting the RBI like this only devastates our economy further and reduces the credit rating of the bank," it added.

He also took a pot shot on PM Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying that they do not know how to revive the financial crisis created by their own policies.

"Stealing from RBI won't work - it's like stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary & sticking it on a gunshot wound," Rahul Gandhi said.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also attacked the government in a series of tweets.

"Is it a sheer coincidence that the Rs 1.76L Cr borrowed by RBI matches with the 'Missing' amount in the Budget Calculations?" Surjewala questioned.

"Is this fiscal prudence or fiscal hara-kiri? Will this Rs 1.76 L Cr be used to save BJP's crony friends?" the Congress leader asked.

'Reserve to Ravage'

"Modi 2.0 has converted the 'R' in RBI from 'Reserve' to 'Ravaged'! Contingency Reserve of RBI meant for extreme financial emergencies & war-like situations is being used by BJP Govt to bury its monumental mess on economic front! BJP has finished RBI's credibility." he said.