In an apparent move to steady its sinking ship with what the observers called a “passive support” from the Trinamool Congress the left Front on Friday called dawn-to-dusk Bengal Bandh against the Central Government’s demonetisation move.
However, State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has thus far been the most vociferous voice Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive against black money through demonetisation however promptly tweeted against the left’s bandh call.
Announcing a general strike CPI(M) politburo member and Front chairman Biman Bose said “The BJP Government has taken away the basic right to live from the people through demonetisation. There was no other way to make the common man’s voices heard by this oppressive Government so we have been forced to call a general strike.”
The bandh has been supported by 18 left parties he said. RSP State secretary Kshiti Goswami said, “we were forced to call the strike as the common man is being subjected to inhuman suffering. We are not against unearthing black money, but the way it has been implemented is wrong and is causing immense hardships to the common man.”
Banks, post offices, ATMs weddings and other essential services have been kept out of the bandh’s ambit, he maintained.
However, Mamata Banerjee said though her party was taking the lead on the issue it did not support the bandh.
“We do not support bandh because it only augments the hardship of the people” Banerjee said adding her party will remain by the people’s side. She also said that the bandh call was not discussed in the all-party meeting in Delhi. The Congress however said it had no problems with the left’s call. “They are calling a bandh for a justified cause and there is no reason to oppose it.”
Notwithstanding her opposition to bandh call Banerjee attacked Modi in no uncertain terms saying “he is not telling the truth” while justifying his stance for demonetisation.
launching a scathing attack on the Prime Minister she said Modi was a bad politician and administrator. “He is not only a bad politician but also a bad administrator,” Banerjee said.