Opposition's protest is like Pakistan army's cover-fire to militants: PM on note ban

NEW DELHI: Those who are against demonetisation "are like Pakistan", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, slamming the opposition for criticizing the ban on high-value notes. "The commotion created in Parliament is like the 'cover fire' that Pakistan uses to ensure terrorists infiltrate into India. Similarly, the ruckus in Parliament lets cheats get away," the PM said at an event in Varanasi. He added that he never imagined politicians would "stand with the corrupt".The PM was referring to Parliament's just-concluded winter session which barely functioned as most opposition parties wanted to discuss the ban on high-value notes and ruling party MPs didn't want to."I never imagined that some politicians would stand by the corrupt," the PM said.PM Modi also criticized the opposition for "protesting everything.""Our army makes us proud but some people have questions even on their bravery. Is it good to view institutions like this?," he said referring to some politicians questioning whether the surgical strikes in September on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir did occur.He also exhorted citizens, especially the youth, to move to online banking and added that technology is what will lift India from poverty."( Congress ) PM Manmohan Singh said that 'In a country where 50% of people are poor what can things like technology do?' Now tell me, was he giving his own report card or mine? Whose legacy is this 50% poverty," Modi asked.The PM also said there are a lot of capable human resources in India and exhorted the youth to show the way forward, especially in India going digital."Your mobile phones can be your banks and wallets," he said.Prime Minister Modi also ridiculed the Congress Party's Rahul Gandhi and his statements about a " political earthquake ," and - without naming him - said his joy "has had no bounds since he learned how to give speeches.""There are some young political leaders. There is a young political leader. He's learning how to speak and since he learned to speak my joy has no bounds. They are learning how to give speeches. I'm glad that they have has started speaking, (but) I'm happy that we did not have an 'earthquake' ," PM Modi said, referring to the Congress vice president, who yesterday said the PM received kickbacks as chief minister of Gujarat from a corporate house.Gandhi was referring to documents recovered by the I-T department during raids on the Sahara Group and the Aditya Birla Group, which allegedly list huge payoffs to several high profile politicians.The Congress leader last week promised to come out with revelations " about the personal corruption " of the PM, revelations that he said will create "a political earthquake."