News Blogger

• 500 Rupees

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has characterized the

demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes

as a 'massive cleaning drive'. He expressed pride at the support the demonetization has received despite the inconvenience it has caused. 

PM Modi's remarks were part of a speech he delivered to the

Indian community in Kobe, Japan

. "This is a massive swachhata abhiyaan (cleaning drive)," he declared. "The money that has been looted has to be recovered. And, the rules have to be the same for everyone," he added. 

Peppering his seech with light-hearted quips on the demonetization of the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Modi sought to ease fears that people might lose their savings, "We spent long hours trying to figure out how to minimize the inconvenience. We said no questions would be asked of

deposits of up to two-and-a-half lakh rupees

. Now, even those sons who left their mothers at old-age homes are depositing two-and-a-half lakh rupees in their mother's accounts," he said, to laughter from the crowd.