Amid all the hullaballoo over the government’s demonetisation drive there’s an intriguing debate going on. With the government insisting that banning the high denomination Rs 500 and 1000 bills will curb corruption, critics argue that the introduction of the even higher denomination Rs 2000 notes will only increase corruption, for the simple reason that they’re easier to stash away!
While the government maintains that it initiated the crack-down to check corruption, critics contend that no matter what the government does, if it continues to be lenient towards corruption within its own ranks, even going to the extent of re-instating officials suspended for acts of corruption, measures like these will be rendered useless. There are also serious doubts about the government’s intent with opponents alleging that the government pressed the ‘panic button’ to send the citizens scampering with deposits to the banks that were in dire need of cash to replenish their depleted reserves that have been siphoned off by the ‘corporate cronies’.
Even as the government tries to convince the people that it is they who would be the ultimate beneficiaries of its move, there are citizens who remind the PM that they would’ve benefitted far more had he honored only part of his election promise about every citizen getting Rs 15 lakhs after bringing back the enormous sums of illegitimate money stashed abroad. While the government complains about huge amounts of illegal wealth being generated by citizens not paying their taxes, the citizen argues that if he does not pay his taxes honestly it is because there are government officials who pocket large portions of it.
As for ‘reports’ about Pakistan having been on the verge of creating ‘an economic Pearl Harbour situation’ in India by dumping loads of counterfeit currency now being circulated on social media to justify the government’s sudden move, there are allegations about the story being fabricated in the wake of massive unanticipated nation-wide chaos. Others contend that it’s a calculated exaggeration, and that in any case it may not be long before Pakistan does another ‘Pearl Harbour’ with the new bills!
Whereas a majority of citizens did welcome the long-awaited assault on black money, the initial euphoria quickly dissipated when it was revealed that 90% of the illegitimate cash had already been ‘secured’ in jewelry, bullion, real estate and foreign banks. The plight of huge chunks of the populace suffering, even dying, in tortuous queues in the scorching heat while many of their wealthier counterparts were smirking in air-conditioned comfort, having already ‘whitened’ their black money, has generated a great deal of frustration. Sharply reacting to the ‘no-pain-no-gain’ argument being put forth by the govt. the common man wants to know whether the drive is really worth the pain of more than 70 people dead and more than a billion suffering, for the sins of their unscrupulous wealthier counterparts, who, ironically, haven’t felt the ‘pain’!
The predominant sentiment is that of angst, anger. Not because of demonetisation per se, which everybody agrees has unearthed at least some of the black money, but the haphazard, lopsided manner in which the anti-corruption drive is being implemented. All the common man wants the government to do is launch a ‘surgical strike’ upon the prime targets which have thus far been spared – the corrupt politicians, govt. servants, the underworld and the super-tycoons, who together constitute by far the largest storehouse of ‘kala dhan’! Friend or foe, should not matter. “Country First!” is the mantra in the street! This will indeed be the litmus test of patriotism!
