New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily on Wednesday termed the government's November 8 demonetisation of higher value currency as "harakiri" or suicide.
Initiating a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the General Budget for 2017-18, Moily also said India had "followed Pakistan" in its demonetisation move, and that only these two countries have claimed that the note ban is aimed to fight corruption and black money.
"This budget has turned out to be a timid one."
"Fighting corruption, and black money was the reason cited for demonetisation... these are the exact words used by Pakistan for demonetisation (in 2015)," Moily said.
He said 22 countries had gone for demonetisation, and only India and Pakistan have cited fighting corruption as the reason.
"For the first time we are following Pakistan," he said.
He also said that on November 8, the day demonetisation was announced, the three service chiefs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Maybe surgical strike entered the brain of the Prime Minister... In the evening he made a surgical strike on the economy," the Congress leader said.
"Instead of 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister should do 'Kaam ki Baat'," Moily added.
He also said that the Prime Minister and the government have "toned down" their rhetoric on demonetisation outside Parliament, but not in the House.