Oppn slams PM Modi for underestimating nation's "intelligence"

New Delhi [India], Jan. 8 (ANI): Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Indian diaspora for supporting the government's move against black money in his key note address at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the opposition on Sunday found the fodder to target the former while asserting that his speech was not supported by facts. "The Non Resident Indian community, who were present or listening to Prime Minister they must have this question in their minds as how much black money PM Modi has unearthed in his two months demonetisation drive, how much fake currency he could collect. He couldn't bring the money from foreign banks which he had promised to bring in 100 days," Congress leader P.C. Chacko told ANI, adding that the Prime Minister has miserably failed in keeping all his promises. Chacko further said if Prime Minister Modi thinks that people would believe him then he is underestimating the intelligence of people. Resonating similar views, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said the government's move to curb black money was not rational, adding that the decision was not taken keeping in view the nation's welfare. "According to me the decision made by Prime Minister was not rational. Before taking the decision, he should have consulted with other political parties as well. The decision is not in nation's welfare," Agarwal told ANI. Janata Dal (United) leader Pavan Varma, however, hailed Prime Minister Modi's address and said that corruption would never come to an end India unless and until the government would severe connections between political funding and black money. "I think the Prime Minister is saying the right thing. We have always believed that unless you severe the nexus, the connections between politics, political funding black money and unaccountable money, corruption can never end in India nor can black money," he told ANI. Echoing similar sentiments, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Prime Minister Modi is fighting against black money. He also attacked the opposition for weakening the Prime Minister's fight against black money. "What the Prime Minister has said is absolutely right and he is fighting against black money. Some people used to deliver speech against black money but on the other hand they try to weaken the fight against it," Hussain told ANI. Reaching out to the young NRIs, Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day called the Indian diaspora a valuable partner in the journey of development, adding the objective is to turn 'brain drain' into 'brain gain'. "Remittance of close to 69 billion dollars annually by overseas Indians makes an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy. We want to turn 'brain-drain' into 'brain-gain' and your support in this is very important," hesaid in his address at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Prime Minister also slammed the opponents of demonetisation while asserting that those terming the government's move as 'anti-people' were the political worshippers of graft and black money. "Friends you know we have undertaken a big responsibility in fighting black money and corruption. It is unfortunate that there are some political worshippers of black money who term our actions against it as anti-people," Prime Minister Modi said. "It is very saddening to see some black money supporters maligning the moves against corruption," he added while thanking the Indian diaspora for supporting the government's steps. (ANI)