Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 16 December, said that Indira Gandhi rejected suggestions for demonetisation in 1971 in favour of winning the elections, a move that resulted in a poor economic condition in the country.

Alleging that Indira Gandhi sold out India by ignoring advice to demonetise, Prime Minister Modi said, "She told her finance minister YB Chavan: are no more elections to be fought by Congress?"

Stressing that the implementation of demonetisation policy was required in 1971, but it was implemented now, the Prime Minister, hitting out at the opposition at the BJP Parliamentary Party meet, said, "For the Congress, party is bigger than nation; but for us, the nation is above the party."

Also read: For Congress, the party is bigger than the nation: PM Modi

As the nation observed Vijay Diwas today, offering respect to the soldiers, who laid down their lives during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that resulted in the birth of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Modi said, "The opposition in 1971 did not ask for a proof of the army's valour, but today's opposition does."

He criticised the opposition for demanding the proof of a surgical strike carried out by the Indian armed forces that dismantled seven terror launch pads across the border on 28-29 September as retaliation to the Uri terror attack.

Stating that demonetisation is the first step to curb black money and corruption, but not the last, the Prime Minister said, "Corruption is our main target and it will not be long before normalcy returns after the 50-day period."

He also thanked Chief Ministers of Odisha and Bihar for supporting demonetisation.

--ANI