Demonetisation must had been done by Indira Gandhi: PM Narendra Modi

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PM Narendra Modi on demonetisation
PM Narendra Modi on demonetisation

New Delhi : Defending his decision to demonetise Indian old currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the decision should have been taken in 1971 when Indira Gandhi was heading the government.

"We needed to do it in 1971. We have caused huge losses by not doing this since 1971," Modi told BJP MPs during a meet in New Delhi.

Referring to a book by former bureaucrat Madhav Godbole, Mr Prime Minister said that then Home Minister Y.B. Chavan had also recommended demonetisation, apparently rejected by Indira Gandhi.

"Godbole says in the book that Gandhi replied saying ‘are no more elections to be fought by the Congress'? Chavan got the message and the recommendation was (dropped)," Modi said.

"This was in 1971 when everybody recommended this. Had it (demonetisation) been done in 1971, the nation wouldn't have been in this situation today."

He also attacked Congress by saying that they follow party first policy while BJP follows an ideology of "nation-first".

Modi addressed media outside Parliament on last day of winter session, which has been washed away due to regular protest by the opposition leaders over demonetisation.