Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced an emergency session of the Delhi Assembly to discuss the "explosive" situation arising out of demonetisation. Also, he is to meet with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday to step up fight against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government.
Kejriwal said considering the hardship being faced by people the Delhi Government has decided to deploy 5,000 civil defence volunteers who will provide citizens at banks and ATMs with water and refreshments, while also assisting them with paper work.
Also, he asked the Divisional Commissioner to start langar in areas where people are unable to buy ration due to cash crunch.
Sticking to his demand that demonetisation be rolled back, the AAP chief lashed out at Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said the Centre has lost "all sense of proportion due to lack of any concrete plan in executing the scheme."
Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, "My decision is a little harsh. When I was young, poor people used to ask for 'kadak' (strong) tea but it spoils the mood of rich."
Challenging Modi's claim that the poor were now having a peaceful sleep and only the rich were "taking sleeping pills", Kejriwal told the media that the reality was the exact opposite. "It is the poor who are camping outside banks and it is Modi's friends who are sleeping peacefully. He has made the poor drink poison in the name of strong tea 'kadak chai'," said Kejriwal.
The CM said he was pained to see people struggle for cash to buy basic necessities like food items and medicines. "We have also asked the Divisional Commissioner to explore in the next two to three days the possibility of arranging food through 'langar's for those who are having to starve due to lack of hard cash," Kejriwal said. The Delhi Health secretary has also been directed to ensure that there is no shortage in city Government-run hospitals, Kejriwal said.
The CM said, "It is simply a mechanism to transfer 50 per cent of the country's total black money to BJP's accounts. The intention is UP polls. They would have arrested Swiss bank account holders and manufacturers of counterfeit currency had they wanted to act against black economy."
Kejriwal said the Delhi Government was exploring accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in Delhi's pavilion at the International Trade Fair but decided against it as any such decision falls under the jurisdiction of the Centre.
"He (Modi) has three best friends Ambani, Adani and Sharad Pawar. He took Pawar's blessings to fight black money yesterday. There cannot be a bigger irony. Modiji talks of arranging a wedding in Rs 24,000. How much money was spent in Jaitleyji's daughter's weddingIJ They spend in crores and ask us to spend Rs 24,000," he said, flashing a Rs 50 note at the end of the presser, saying "this is all what I am left with".
Kejriwal called the November 8 decision to demonetise the Rs 500 and 1,000 notes a poorly planned scheme and asked the Government to stop being adamant and withdraw it immediately.
"It is beyond our understanding how corruption and black money can be fought by introducing Rs 2,000 notes in place of the outgoing Rs 1,000IJ"
Pointing to the announcement that cash was being despatched to remote corners in IAF aircraft, Kejriwal said this showed the Government was now in a panic mood and that there had been no proper prior planning. Saying "dalals" (touts) were making merry amid the nationwide crisis, the AAP leader said it were the honest people who were queuing up for their own money.
He said, "The PM has sought 50 days time for things to normalise. On behalf of the traders, I want to ask the PM how will their work go on for the next 50 daysIJ"