It is no secret that the opposition parties are trying their best do discredit the demonetisation drive by the union government and they have been coming up with all kinds of arguments. While criticisms like cash crunch and inconvenience to people are logical and valid, some leaders have gone to the illogical extent of linking it with religions.
The latest to do so is the AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who has claimed that the Modi Government was not supplying cash in banks and ATMs present in Muslim dominated areas! Owaisi virtually accused the government of profiling its citizens based on religious grounds and practicing discriminatory policies.
The absurdity of this claim was rejected by Muslims themselves, who claimed – as per a survey conducted by India Today – that they were inconvenienced as much as any other Indian citizen and faced no special discrimination in getting cash.
Owaisi’s claims are further ridiculous as it suggests that there is some grand conspiracy to keep Muslims out of the banking system, whereas the truth is that the Modi government has actually been under attack from its traditional supporters for toying with ideas like Islamic Banking to bring Muslims into the banking system.
But Owaisi is not the first one or the only one to give communal colours to the demonetisation drive.
One of the earliest ones to drag religion into the whole affair was Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, who tweeted that demonetisation had ruined Hindus:
भाजपा कहती है हम हिन्दुओं की पार्टी हैं। नोटबंदी में तो भाजपा ने हिन्दुओं को भी नहीं छोड़ा। हिन्दुओं को भी बर्बाद कर दिया।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 20, 2016
While BJP rubbished Kejriwal’s claims, one group has supported his statement. Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha has claimed that demonetisation was anti-Hindu and it will bring the downfall of the government.
Arvind Kejriwal has often mocked the Modi government that its demonetisation drive received support from Vijay Mallya, who is accused of financial malpractices. Now it will be interesting to know what he thinks about himself as his thoughts have been supported by a group like Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha.
The other party to bring communal angle to demonetisation was Congress. Senior leader of the party Kapil Sibal claimed that Muslims were the most discomforted due to demonetisation as they choose not to open bank accounts, for earning interest (on deposits) is haram (forbidden) in Islam.
नोटबंदी से सबसे ज्यादा मुसलमान परेशान, वो सूद नहीं खाता इसलिए बैंक अकाउंट नहीं रखता: कपिल सिब्बलhttps://t.co/vdz7nsp7Py pic.twitter.com/czvNDycuEA
— आज तक (@aajtak) November 26, 2016
Maybe Sibal and Owaisi should first meet and decide whether Muslims have bank accounts or not.
