Manmohan Singh in Gujarat as BJP gears up for 'Anti-Black Money' Day

The Opposition is heading for a showdown with the BJP government at the Centre ahead of the first anniversary of demonetization on November 8. Senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a rare appearance in poll-bound Gujarat on Tuesday itself. The Congress has decided to field Singh, an economist of repute, to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state.

A fierce demonetization critique, Singh will fly to Ahmedabad to hold a media conference to speak on India's economy. PM Modi announced on November 8 last year the scrapping of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as part of the government's efforts to fight black money and corruption.

A total of 18 Opposition parties have decided to observe November 8 as "Black Day" with protests and rallies across states to highlight "the cash crunch and economic slowdown", with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi meeting industrialists in Gujarat's Surat to highlight their "woes". The ruling BJP will be hold "Anti-Black Money Day" celebrations across the country.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday that some people have problems in accepting the fact that transactions through the digital mode and banking instruments, spurred because of demonetization, as compared to cash dealings, are going to witness a rapid growth.

PM Modi said in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh on Sunday that Congress was "angry" with demonetization because the decision has disturbed the party's sleep and it is slipping into "mourning" by giving a public protest call. He said "they had big bags and garages full of notes which were banned due to the decision." "The Congress cannot scare me by burning my effigies... My fight against corruption will not stop, he said.

The Congress has asked all its general secretaries to fan across states to lend their voice to anti-demonetization protests. The party has also complied the "ill-effects" of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), another initiative of the Modi government. A booklet prepared by the Congress lists PM Modi's speeches since November 2016, showing "fluctuating" narratives.

PM Modi has accused former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of not going for demonetization when needed, and said he would not have had to carry out the big task if she had taken the step years ago. The PM has also accused former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and said the latter refused to combat the menace of corruption.

The Opposition has said demonetization has slowed India's growth and wiped out jobs, while the government says the move has brought down cash in the economy, spurred digitisation, expanded the tax base and fought black money.