Income Tax Amendment Bill for the welfare of the poor, says PM Modi

PM Modi asks BJP MPs, MLAs to submit bank transaction details to Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked BJP MPs and MLAs to submit details of their bank account transactions between November 8 and December 31 to party President Amit Shah November 8 was when PM Modi announced that the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would be scrapped at midnight, and December 31 comes a day after the deadline for depositing demonetised notes in bank accounts.The PM's instructions came at a BJP Parliamentary meeting, following allegations by opposition parties that the BJP had tipped off some of its own leaders ahead of the demonetisation announcement.Demonetisation has been hailed by many as a body blow to black money hoarders , but also criticized as a pre-election stunt, ahead of key polls in several states next year.It's being discussed in the Winter session of the Parliament , and yesterday, the Opposition stalled proceedings for the eighth consecutive day. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned prematurely.A number of Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress), Sudip Bandhopadhyay (Trinamool Congress) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), asked that their demand for an Adjournment Motion - and for a debate under a rule that entails voting - be accepted. They also demanded the presence of the Prime Minister during the debate.In response, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Prime Minister will speak on demonetisation, but that a debate - for which the rules will be decided by the Speaker - should take place.PM Modi today also rejected allegations that the Income Tax Amendment Bill tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday was aimed at converting black money into white."The PM described the move as a fight against black money and said it is for the welfare of poor," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters.He added that the PM had also sought support from everyone to make India a digital and cashless economy.