Terming the demonetisation move as an "extortion of common man", Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday advised the ruling BJP to take former Prime Minister Manohar Singh's speech on the issue in Rajya Sabha seriously and warned the NDA Government that his party would not hesitate to take an “extreme” position on the the issue if there was no let up the hardships faced by the ordinary people.
Talking media persons here after Singh dubbed demonetisation of Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes as an “organised loot and legalised plunder“, Uddhav stepped up the attack against the NDA Government, by invoking the remarks of the former Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha and asking the Government to take the former Prime Minister’s remarks seriously.
“Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a renowned economist. The Goverment has to take his opinion seriously,” the Sena president said.
Taking a potshot at Modi for getting emotional over the demonetisation issue, Uddhav said, “In the name of demonetisation, the Government is extorting money from people. The Prime Minister getting emotional at as when the ordinary people are already in tears does not mean anthing. You (Prime Minister) have not made any attempt to wipe the tears in the eyes of the common people”.
“People elected you to power with such an overwhelming mandate. You have brought tears in their eyes. From what is happening around us, we have no reason to believe that we have people’s government at the Centre,” the Sena president said.
“Only one man can not take decisions for 125 crore people in the country. The Prime Minister should have taken people into confidence before such a big decision as demonetisation. From the looks of it, this Government has solved most problems faced by the county. The Only task that is remaining is exchanging notes. No wonder the people have been forced to stand in long queues to withdraw their own hard earned money,” Uddhav said.
Maintaining that the unrest among the people over the inconviencied caused to them the demontisation move was justified, Uddhav said: " "Having been put inconvenience of the worst kind, people have every right to express their anger at the establishment. We as a political party reach the sentiments of the people to the Government. ... let me tell you that I will not hesitate to taken an extreme position if the need arises ( on the demonetisation issue)".
Alluding to the Prime Minister’s move seeking people’s feedback over demonetisation on the Narendra Modi App, Uddhav said, “The way in which a referendum was sought in Britain before its withdrawal from the European Union, a survey is being done here. But seeing people’s response, their (UK) Prime Minister chose to step down. Will something similar happen hereIJ”.
On Reserve Bank India’s decision not to allow district central co-operative (DCC) banks to exchange the old currency, the Sena president said: “Did Vijay Mallya take loans from any of the DCC banksIJ How is the Government allowing the banks – from which Mallya took loans – have been allowed to exchange the old currency”
Uddhav demanded that the deadline for acceptance of demonetised notes be extended till December 31.
Earlier in the day, the Sena hit out at the continued killing of Indian soldiers along the loC. “The Union government, which took credit for the surgical strike across loC, should now admit its failure to bring an end to killings at the border, the Sena stated in an editorial published in its official mouthpiece “Saamana”.