Just on the eve of the winter session, the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi accused PM Narendra Modi of "laughing" when 18-20 people died in ques outside banks and ATMs to withdraw money and the move will turn out to be a big scam.

The BJP people were alerted beforehand about the demonetisation. "How can one explain the BJP people in West Bengal depositing crores in high-denomination notes just before PM's announcement on November 8?" Rahul said.

"BJP workers were seen holding up bundles of the new Rs 2000 notes, as seen from images on the Internet, before Modi announced this decision," he told reporters in suburban Bandra tonight.

"This move by the Modi government will turn out to be a big scam," Rahul said.He also claimed that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was kept in the dark about the announcement.

"I don't think even Finance Minister Arun Jately, knew about the demonetisation announcement, PM does not believe in his own people," Rahul said. "The PM took decision without thinking. We don't want to reverse it, but at least resolve the difficulties people are facing," he said.

"Many economists, including manmohan singh says there is no rationale to this decision. They say it's a decision based on political calculation. The entire Opposition united against Modi government's demonetisation move which has resulted in massive inconvenience for people. Go after the big players in black money. I don't see that happening. We cannot let farmers and labourers stand in queues for months," he said.

Asked to comment on Modi's mother standing in a bank queue, Rahul quipped: "Mine and Narendra Modi's styles are different. I won't speak about his mother."

"The entire Opposition is united against Modi government's demonetisation move which has resulted in massive inconvenience for people," Rahul said.

"We want the government to sort this out expeditiously. The rural population has borne the maximum brunt. What will happen to a farmer who might have saved cash for daughter's marriage? Banking network is not very strong in remote areas.

The transition should have been smooth," he said. ""The real black money players like Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi are out of the country. The big players are going scot free," he said. "Go after the big players in black money. I don't see that happening. We cannot let farmers and labourers stand in queues for months," he said.

"Go after the big players in black money. I don't see that happening. We cannot let farmers and labourers stand in queues for months," he said. Asked about his own visit to a bank to exchange old notes, Rahul said, "My sense was to be with the people in their hardship and be with them."

On Modi's jibe at him and Congress that those involved in 2G spectrum scam were now standing in queue to exchange Rs 4,000, Rahul said, "Modiji is always attacking me. Those waiting in line outside banks are poor, small traders, government employees. Are they thieves?

"Some planning should have been there. What to do when crores of people line up outside banks to withdraw cash and new 2,000 rupee notes don't fit into the ATMs," he said.

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