A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the Trinamool Congress’ throbbing ponzy nerve Mamata Banerjee on Monday resorted to political brick-batting and questioned the “hidden agenda” behind demonetisation by his Government that had allegedly hit a large number of political outfits that feed on unexplained and illegal money.
And even as she put the Modi Government’s “hidden agenda” to trial — demanding “truth must be brought out,” — she alleged how the Centre had cleverly ensured a smooth flow of its own revenue by allowing the Railways, Petroleum Ministry etc to accept the old high-value currency notes but denying the States the same facility forcing them to starve.
Banerjee’s clever use of the “revenue” ploy is aimed at uniting the Opposition States against the BJP, experts felt.
Visibly incensed by the Prime Minister’s chit fund diatribe the Bengal Chief Minister fired equally lethal salvos saying “I am not sure about the hidden agenda behind the demonetisation but that must be brought out.”
Dropping a clear hint of her talking points in the upcoming rallies in Bihar, UP and Punjab that she was scheduled to address Banerjee thundered “before attacking others you (the Prime Minister) should do some self-searching to find out why some individuals were saved by waiving their loans through NPA scheme.
This is the reason why I say that there was some hidden agenda behind the demonetisation which has hurt the common man but saved the rich who have not been hurt at all.”
Wondering whether the Finance Minister or for that matter the Cabinet was kept in the loop while demonetisation was decided she said, “never a disastrous decision as this has been taken in the past affecting 85 per cent of the people. A Cabinet is a collective body which works as one unit. By keeping it in the dark only shows dictatorial attitude.”