The Opposition on Saturday continued to attack the Modi Government over its “demonetisation” move with the Congress terming it a “jumla” and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calling it a “big black scandal”. The CPI(M) said the move will “put brakes” on the economy. Opposition parties called the move a “surgical strike” on the aam aadmi and demanded immediate rollback of demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes. Mamata took her opposition to the demonetisation to a new level saying she was even “ready to work with the CPI(M)” despite ideological differences “to save the country”.
The Congress demanded that the BJP make public all its expenses in the upcoming Assembly polls in five States and also set up a court of enquiry into the expenditure it incurred during the 2014 lok Sabha election campaign. It gave notice on suspension of business for discussion of demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha on November 16.
Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said when the UPA was going to take a decision on demonetisation of pre-2005 currency in January 2014, then BJP spokesperson Meenakshi lekhi termed it as “anti-poor and a mockery of the poor”. “BJP had completely opposed it (at that time). Is it not a mockery of the poor people nowIJ It is also a jumla and nothing else,” he said.
Mamata, who was among the first from the Opposition ranks to hit out at the Government over the move, also demanded the withdrawal of the “draconian decision” and termed it “dictatorship”. The TMC chief said she visited several banks and ATMs to listen to the tales of hardship of the people. “The Government has no moral right to continue in power,” she said.
“We may have ideological differences with CPI(M) but we are ready to work with it, Congress, SP, BSP to save the country,” she said, adding the demonetisation move would not have any effect on blackmoney.
For his part, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said scrapping Rs1,000/500 notes is not a solution as corrupt people will anyway remain corrupt and are waiting for the new Rs2,000 notes.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that Modi made the demonetisation without any plan or preparation. “PM announced this without any preparation: Illustrates this Government’s idea of governance and lack of empathy for the average Indian’s suffering,” he tweeted.