Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday cancelled his Ahmedabad rally and joined hands with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to launch an all out attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision.
Addressing a rally at Asia’s largest fruit and vegetable market Azadpur Mandi on Thursday, both the Chief Ministers made a double bore attack on the Centre for the problems being faced by the common man.
They warned the Centre that there would be intense protests and unrest in the city and across the country if the Government did not withdraw its demonetisation decision.
“Take back this decision in three days... Don’t test the people’s patience. Otherwise, there will be a ‘bagawat’ (revolt) by the people,” said Kejriwal.
The TMC supremo said such a crisis was not witnessed even during the dreaded Emergency days and Modi had broken constitutional rules.
“Why didn’t you (Modi) make a proper plan before the implementation (of demonetisation),” said Mamata and also asked the Centre to roll back the decision in three days.
“We support the fight against black money but the poor and the less privileged should not suffer. We will not stay silent. And, if it is not done (withdrawn) in three days, then the countrymen will not spare you,” she added.
After the Azadpur Mandi rally, the two leaders held a demonstration outside the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Parliament Street and demanded that the bank tell them about the availability of the new currency notes.
Both Azadpur Mandi and RBI headquarters are sensitive places as Azadpur is the trading hub of the Capital while the entire demonetisation process is being regulated by the RBI.
Addressing traders at Azadpur, Kejriwal called demonetisation the country’s “biggest scam” in Independent India’s history while Mamata said Modi should not run the country like a “dictator.”
Calling the protest a fight to save the country, Kejriwal alleged that demonetisation was being carried out to write-off around Rs 8 lakh crore worth of loans owed by Modi’s corporate friends.
“Black money is flooding the market again. Notes are being home delivered to some people. The Government wants to amass Rs 10 lakh crore by forcing the people to deposit their money in banks and use that amount to write off loans of Modiji’s friends. Modiji sent Vijay Mallya, who has huge debts, to london one night, while people of the country are on the streets.
“People are being cheated. Why did the Income Tax department not raid former BJP Minister G Janardhana Reddy who spent Rs 500 crores on his daughter’s weddingIJ And they want us common people to spend Rs 2.5 lakh at a wedding,” he said.
Taking a dig at Arun Jaitley, the Delhi Chief Minister wondered if the Finance Minister had spent just Rs 2.5 lakh at his daughter’s wedding recently.
“Modiji, do not fool people by saying that standing in line is patriotism. Who is responsible for the death of 40 people standing in queues and due to the effects of demonetisationIJ” he asked.
Kejriwal also repeated certain allegations that he had made against Modi pertaining to his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and said that he was basing his allegations on documents given to him by someone sitting at a top position in the Finance Ministry.
Talking about the plight of traders in the city, he said, “Azadpur Mandi is one of the busiest wholesale markets. But ever since the demonetisation scheme was announced, it has witnessed a major slide and is wearing a deserted look as there is no money in the market.”
Taking a swipe at Modi, Mamata said people are talking about plastic economy just because they have travelled to a few countries. “What do they know about the economyIJ People are dying here and they say it is a surgical strike on black money,” she said.
She added that the Prime Minister should stand in line with the people to understand their pain.
Asserting that she would continue her fight for the people, Mamata challenged the Centre to take action against her. “I am not scared. I will continue my fight. If you have courage, put me in jail, shoot me.”
Calling her fight against demonetisation a fight to “save the country, a fight for the poor and hungry people”, Mamata said this decision may take the country back by 100 years.
“The Government is coming out with a new decision daily. The day before yesterday it said the limit for exchange is Rs 4,500, today it is Rs 2,000. The other day it was said indelible ink will have to be put on fingers. What is going onIJ Are we servantsIJ Are we thieves and you are the only honest peopleIJ she asked.
After the rally Kejriwal and Mamata went to meet the RBI Governor to discuss the “ill-effects of demonetisation”.