At the Deesa rally, PM Modi strongly defended his government’s decision to withdraw old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes out of circulation in its pursuit of flushing out black money and counterfeit currency from the economy.

“Government has always said we are ready to debate. I am not being allowed to speak in Lok Sabha so I am speaking in the Jan Sabha,” said PM Modi at a farmers rally in Deesa in Banaskantha district of Gujarat where he inaugurated a cooperative dairy plant.

He added that the events in the winter session of Parliament ‘has anguished’ President Pranab Mukherjee who has ‘tremendous political experience.’ On December 8, President Mukherjee had slammed the opposition for disrupting Parliament proceedings forcing the Chair to adjourn. Stating that the floor of the House is not the place for dharnas for which “streets are still available”, he told parliamentarians “for God’s sake, do your job”.

“With our step on currency notes, we have been successful in weakening the hands of terrorists and those involved in fake currency rackets,” said PM Modi. “I had asked for 50 days. You will see how things will change. This is a major step to rid the nation from corruption.”

“These games of looting the poor and exploiting the middle classes will now be history,” added PM Modi.

“Yes, you can oppose me but do teach people about banking, using technology for financial transactions…today your banks and your wallets are in your mobile,” he said.