A week after vowing to protest against the demonetisation policy of the Modi Government, Opposition parties that were united till now, have broken ranks over the Bharat bandh call given by some allies like left parties on Monday. Congress, JD(U) and Trinamool Congress have made it clear that they are not supporting the bandh call though they will continue to hold protests across the country against demonetisation, while the TMC will hold protests across the country by observing Jan Aakrosh Diwas.
For his party’s stand, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, a one-time loyal ally of the NDA, received accolades from BJP president Amit Shah for his support to demonetisation. Claiming that the masses were with the Government, the BJP claimed that the protests called by certain Opposition parties will not be successful and said parties like the Congress were already retreating and not calling it a Bharat bandh. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda too refused to support the bandh.
While Opposition parties have attempted to corner the BJP in Parliament over demonetisation, they seem to be divided over the Bharat bandh. While non-BJP governed States have called for protests, many leaders have chosen to oppose the bandh.
The differences in the Opposition parties over the demonetisation have also apparently hit some of the regional politics like that of Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance Government in Bihar where lalu Prasad’s RJD has a greater stake. The RJD is against the Centre’s decision of demonetisation unlike its ally JD(U).
“I commend Nitish Kumar for the support he has given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fight against black money and corruption,” Shah said at a public meeting in Bengaluru acknowledging Kumar’s attempts to steer clear of the Opposition’s attempts to close ranks against the Centre.
The BJP, he said, also appreciates the Nitish Kumar Government’s efforts in getting bail of high-profile accused, some linked to ally RJD, cancelled by moving to the Supreme Court.
Asked if it is an indication of growing bonhomie with Kumar, BJP sources played down such suggestions but added that there is an appreciation for his stand on various issues and Shah’s public praise was an acknowledgment of this.
Union Minister and lJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan welcomed Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) president Nitish Kumar’s decision of supporting the Centre’s demonetisation move and dared the RJD and Congress to come out of the Grand Alliance Government if they have problem with it. Nitish Kumar on his part has dismissed report of “confusion or fissures” in the Grand Alliance over demonetisation due to divergent views of the Congress and RJD.
West Bengal left parties have given a call for 12-hour State-wide shutdown after their counterparts in Tripura and Kerala announced the same. While the State Government had already planned for a rally in protest of demonetisation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed the bandh call.
Mamata being in the forefront of protests against demonetisation, it was expected of her to support the bandh. However, calling the shutdown nothing but another inconvenience to people, the TMC supremo has opposed the bandh.
Asked what will be the Opposition’s strategy in Parliament, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said a debate will happen if the Prime Minister participates in it. Hitting out at the Centre, the former Union Minister alleged that it “was a political move being sold as a fight against corruption”.
Asked why Congress’ ally Nitish Kumar was not in the favour of protests against demonetisation, Ramesh said JDU leader Sharad Yadav was supporting it.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu took a jibe at the Congress for planning to stage protests and stated that the Congress is clearly rattled by certain transformational results. “Realising the popular support to demonetisation, it is now calling its countrywide bandh ‘akrosh’ rallies. From this, it is clear that all of this is aimed at finding some space in the media as it has clearly lost its space at the debating forum of Parliament and in the minds of the people,” Naidu said.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley came to the defence of RBI Governor Urjit Patel in the wake of criticism by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, saying it is an “unfair attack” and politicians should refrain from making comments on those who cannot defend themselves. “An unfair attack by Jairam Ramesh on the RBI Governor. Must politicians attack those who can’t defend themselves in the same toneIJ” he said in a tweet.
In an article written in a national daily, Ramesh alleged that RBI was kept in the dark by the Government about its surprise demonetisation move. “Urjit Patel is either guilty of misleading the nation about RBI’s preparedness on demonetisation or has sacrificed the autonomy of RBI. Either way, he should resign,” Ramesh had said.
The Samajwadi Party in poll-bound UP said the demonetisation drive smacked of an attempt at “financially harming” rival political parties ahead of elections. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move is aimed at financially harming rival political parties in 2017 UP Assembly polls. This poll is a do-or-die for the BJP. The BJP thought that due to impact of demonetisation, rival parties in the State will not be able to withdraw money for polls,” SP national vice-president Kironmay Nanda said.
AIADMK attacked Modi for speaking about demonetisation only outside Parliament, saying he was “slighting Constitution and democracy”. listing a set of questions over demonetisation and its implications, AIADMK said, “The Prime Minister who is supposed to answer all these questions is slighting the Constitution and democracy by seeking to explain about it only in places other than Parliament”.