NEW DELHI: The BJP will commemorate the first anniversary of demonetisation as an anti-black money day on November 8.
In contrast, the Congress and other opposition is marking November 8 as a black day.
Reiterating that demonetisation has helped the government achieve numerous goals, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the BJP would accept the challenge to take the debate forward on government's action against the black money.
Jaitley, who is also the election in-charge for Gujarat, said that BJP would commemorate the anti-black money day across the country with the participation of all the ministers, leaders and workers at all levels.
“The Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power. But I cannot recall any step taken by the Congress against black money. They were reconciled to the idea of shallow economy in the country,” Jaitley told reporters while adding that senior ministers would be touring various parts of the country to speak to the people on the gains and objectives of demonetization.
Incidentally, Himachal Pradesh will go to polls a day after the BJP and the Opposition lock horns on the street with counter-claims on demonetization.
Jaitley argued that the demonetization has helped the government to bring the unaccounted cash into the banking system and close to 18 lakh people are being asked to explain sources of deposits disproportionate to their incomes.
The minister extensively detailed steps taken by the government after the BJP came to power to act on the issue of black money, including revision of the double taxation avoidance treaties with a number of countries.