Demonetisation An ill-Fated Exercise: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi: Attacking the Narendra Modi government on the for the 2016 demonetisation, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday urged the Centre to restore certainty and visibility in its economic policies.

The former Finance Minister also asked the current NDA regime not to indulge in any further unorthodox, short-term economic measures that could cause any more uncertainty in the economy and financial markets

Terming demonetisation an "ill-fated" and "ill-thought" exercise, Singh's statement said: "Today marks the second anniversary of the ill-fated and ill-thought demonetisation... The havoc that it unleashed on the Indian economy and society is now evident to everyone.

"Notebandi (demonetisation) impacted every single person, regardless of age, gender, religion, occupation or creed," Singh said in a statement.

"I urge the government to restore certainty and visibility in economic policies. Today is a day to remember how economic misadventures can roil the nation for a long time and understand that economic policymaking should be handled with thought and care."

He also said that even after two years, the economy was yet to "recover from the demonetisation shock".

"It is often said that time is a great healer. But unfortunately, in the case of demonetisation, the scars and wounds of demonetisation are only getting more visible with time.

"Beyond the steep drop in headline GDP growth numbers after demonetisation, the deeper ramifications of notebandi are still unravelling.

"Small and medium businesses that are the cornerstone of India's economy are yet to recover from the demonetisation shock."

He also said that the step had "a direct impact on employment as the economy continues to struggle to create enough new jobs for our youth".

Singh said the financial markets are volatile as the liquidity crisis wrought by demonetisation is taking its eventual toll on infrastructure lenders and non-bank financial services firms.

"We are yet to understand and experience the full impact of the demonetisation exercise. With a depreciating currency and rising global oil prices, macroeconomic headwinds are also starting to blow now.

"It is therefore prudent to not resort to further unorthodox, short-term economic measures that can cause any more uncertainty in the economy and financial markets."

In a sudden move that took everyone by surprise, Modi had on this day in 2016, announced a ban on the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

Mamata Slams Modi For Cheating Nation With Notebandi scam

Kolkata: On the second anniversary of demonetisation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for cheating the nation with the note-ban "scam".

Calling it a dark day, Banerjee tweeted: "The government cheated our nation with this big #Demonetisation scam. It ruined the economy and the lives of millions. People will punish those who did this."

The Centre had on the day in 2016, at 8 p.m. announced a ban on the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in a sudden move that took everyone by surprise, restricting availability of money for the next two days and taking months to return to normal.

"#DarkDay today is the second anniversary of #DeMonetisation disaster. From the moment it was announced I said so. Renowned economists, common people and all experts now all agree," Banerjee added. (IANS)

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