Jaitley said that every political viewpoint these days was able to find "some space in some section or the other", and pointed out that the social media permitted individual citizens to express their opinions freely.

"Modi has admitted to his theft in the Supreme Court. In the affidavit, he admitted to changes in the contract without asking the Air Force and putting Rs 30,000 crore in Ambani's pocket," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

  But the minister was silent on Rajan's criticism of the note-ban, which has disrupted everyone's life in general and that of small traders and small businesses in particular.

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.

In a sudden move that took everyone by surprise, PM Modi had on this day in 2016, announced a ban on the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

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.

In 2017, India became the sixth largest economy with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 2.59 trillion, relegating France to the seventh position.  

The finance minister attributed the rise in the tax mop-up to lower tax rates and higher compliance.

Jaitley's comments reflect a growing tension between the RBI and the government, days after the central bank Deputy Governor Viral Acharya made a bold pitch for autonomy and independence in the banking regulator's functioning.

Delivering the first Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Lecture at the India Ideas Conclave in New Delhi he asked whether Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi have ever gone to a congregation where 'Bharat ke tukde honge' slogan was raised.

Exhorting the Kashmiris to unitedly fight against terrorism, he said it is absolutely essential for all of us that in this battle, we need the Kashmiri people on our side. 

The finance minister asserted that the govt was only interested in maintaining professionalism, the image and the institutional integrity of the CBI.

According to an eyewitness, the scenes were reminiscent of ones witnessed during the Partition of the country when millions of people lost their lives in violence.

Continuing to call Congress leader a 'clown prince', Jaitley in a Facebook blog wondered if Rahul Gandhi has a personality issue.

Addressing the 98th annual session of Assocham, Jaitley said swift decision-making of the Modi government has helped in handling the IL&FS crisis.

Jaitley said the Supreme Court has permitted Aadhaar linkage in several areas like income tax, based on "the principle of proportionality".  

The Centre cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.50 per litre and asked oil firms to absorb Re 1 a litre of prices.

Speaking at the release of a book titled 'Bhartruhari Mahtab - Outstanding Parliamentarian', Jaitley said because of personal attack and interruptions some Parliamentarians even fail to conclude their speeches on the floor of the House.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Congress president Rahul Gandhi used the report to attack the Modi government. He alleged that the demonetisation converted black money into white and Rs 3.16 lakh crore of loans were written off.

Political parties, including Congress, have been demanding that the petrol and diesel be brought under the GST so that duties on them can come down that will reflect in lower prices at the pump.