Speaking to reporters after releasing BJP's manifesto in Bhopal ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections, Jaitley said that demonetisation has increased the tax return filings and also increased the revenue of the states and the Centre immensely.
Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "robbing" the hard-earned money of the poor and giving it to a few rich.
In a letter, they said there was concern over the "unconscionable" and "unwarranted delay" in bringing out the audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale fighter jet deal, and the reports should be tabled before Parliament in the Winter Session.
"By any account demonetisation was a catastrophe, an ingenious officially blessed money laundering exercise", Chidambaram said.
Addressing an audience at the University of California in Berkley on Friday, Rajan said for four years -- 2012 to 2016 -- India was growing at a faster pace before it was hit by two major headwinds.
Taking a swipe at Modi, Rahul said the demonetisation had caused great destruction of economy and rendered many people jobless.
They raised slogans against the Centre describing the exercise as an "anti-people" decision.
Terming the criticism, that almost the entire cash money got deposited in the banks post demonetisation, as 'ill-informed', Jaitley said confiscation of currency was not an objective of demonetisation.
'Why does Congress find merit in protesting against every anti-corruption measure of the Government of India? What do they fear?'
Jaitley pointed out that confiscation of currency was not an objective of Demonetisation, adding getting it into the formal economy and making the holders pay tax was the broader objective.
The government had scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, 2016 and announced issuance of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.
Growth reached 6.7 per cent in fiscal year 2017/18, with a significant acceleration in recent months, it said.
Post demonetisation in November 2016, the Reserve Bank has introduced Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 notes. Besides, it came out with smaller notes of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 500.
In an apparent reference to Pakistan, the BSF chief said fake notes were being made and sent from the "friendly neighbour" on the western side of India, and Bangladesh was only used as a transit.
Kurukshetra, Sept 5: Congress attack BJP over Rafale, demonetisation and other issues
Earlier, various reports claimed that Kumar blamed Rajan's policies for the declining growth rate over the last three years.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi clubbed demonetisation with Rafale deal to allege that these were 'scams' meant to favour what he called 'crony capitalists' close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi government over demonetisation and Rafale deal
On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the demonetisation of high-value currency notes.
IndiaTV Kurukshetra on August 30: Debate on Rahul Gandhi's demonetisation, Rafale allegations on Modi govt
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