Will check records since Independence: PM Modi hints at more action to unearth black money

Even as long serpentine queues were witnessed at bank branches for the third straight day across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday termed the demonetisation as "Swachhata Abhiyan" and hailed the undaunting spirit of people despite their hardship following its announcement on November 8.

Addressing Indian community in Japan's Kobe before departing for India, PM Modi said, "I salute each and every Indian. Many families had weddings, health problems, they faced inconvenience but they accepted the decision."

"I make it very clear that if anything unaccounted comes up, then I will check its records since Independence. Will deploy as many people as required for this. Honest people will not face any problem. No one will be spared. Those who know me, they are intelligent as well. They think it is better to offer it in Ganga than in banks," Modi said

He was referring to reports of the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes flowing in Ganga river.

The Prime Minister also said that there is no guarantee that no new measure will be introduced after December 30 to crackdown on black money holders.

Meanwhile, dubbing the demonetisation of high currency notes as a "huge scam", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged BJP had told all its "friends" about the move much before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement and demanded its immediate roll back.

People including elderly and women in large numbers were queuing up to get the valid currency notes needed to meet their daily expenses. To add to the misery still half of the ATMs are non-functional, making people agitated about the lack of infrastructure preparedness for the note exchange programme.