Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the currency ban move as a step to make India an economic superpower.
Describing demonetization as a step towards making India an economic superpower, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that only a courageous and far-sighted Prime Minister could have taken such a bold decision.
"Demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes is a decision taken in national interest. Can't people of the country bear with a little inconvenience if that leads to better things?" Singh said while addressing BJP's Parivartan yatra in Roorkee today.
"It is a step that will help the country become an economic superpower. Only a courageous and far-sighted Prime Minister could have taken a decision like that," Mr Singh said.
Asking people to have some more patience, he said that within about a month they would be able to withdraw as much money from their accounts as they want.
Asking people to draw inspiration from leaders like Chandrashekhar Azad and Ashfaqulla Khan whose sacrifices in the prime of their youth led the country to attain independence, Mr Singh said sometimes hard decisions have to be taken in national interest.
Mocking Rahul Gandhi's statement that there will be a storm if he speaks, the Union Minister said, "Though he speaks on a daily basis, not even a wind has blown from anywhere, not to speak of a storm."
Ruling out any storm from anywhere, Mr Singh said that even if there was one, the government will bear the brunt of it and the people have nothing to worry.
He also pooh-poohed leader of the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha for comparing "notebandi" with "Nasbandi" saying that "he is trying to remind people of their own days".
He said a comparison between demonetization and Nasbandi was possible only when one thinks of the damage it has done to people hoarding black money.
"Yes, it is a Nasbandi on people with black money," Mr Singh said.