Nand Lal, a retired soldier from Gurugram, was photographed in tears while he stood outside a bank, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. The iconic photograph by Hindustan Times went on to represent the misery of the individuals waiting to withdraw the legal tender, or get their scrapped notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 exchanged.
The 79-year-old had to plead the State Bank of India officials with folded hands for his pension after standing in a queue for three days.
He became a symbol of struggle, and was used as an example by the Opposition to lash out and question the BJP-led Central government's demonetisation policy.
But turns out, Lal is all praises for PM Modi's note ban initiative.
While speaking to ANI on Wednesday, 8 November, he said that demonetisation has benefited the economy.
“I will welcome whatever policies our government will implement, and will do so till the day I die ,” he said.
After Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted the picture of Lal, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad was quick to point that the ex-serviceman was a supporter of PM Modi.
Rahul Gandhi, on the first anniversary of note ban, had tweeted
The BJP later responded with:
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