BSP leader Mayawati on Saturday attacked the Modi-Government for implementing “the half-baked” and “poorly implemented” demonetisation move which she claimed was an act of “political opportunism” with an eye on Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and other States.
Addressing a Press conference here, the former Chief Minister said the Government could have given 10 days time to poor people and keep an strict eye on the wrong-doers who she said were in a minority. “Why give punishment to 90 per cent people for the doings of 10 per centIJ”, she asked.
Mayawati claimed that the Government had carried out “a fake survey” on the popularity of demonetisation. She demanded that lok Sabha be dissolved and fresh elections should be announced to test the popularity of Government’s step to withdraw major currency notes.
“Now to prove that his wrong decision is correct, the Prime Minister is getting emotional and shedding tears. What is this if not blackmail,” she said. “There is no doubt that the Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in a hurry and without proper preparation demonetised `500 and `1,000 notes. This immature decision has been taken 100 per cent because of their political interests which has caused havoc across the country,” she said.
Mayawati claimed the situation was like an “economic emergency which is condemnable”. The BSP leader also said that nearly 100 people had died and the Centre has not extended any economic support to them. She also alleged that the ruling party at the Centre settled its black money days before the note ban was announced.
While agreeing that she accepts money from ticket seekers, the BSP leader said it is used to strengthen the party organisation and fight elections. “Money is taken from ticket seekers like it is received from party workers, MPs and MlAs. It is kept in bank accounts to strengthen the organisation and contest polls,” she said.
Answering a question, she said BSP has no challenger in Uttar Pradesh and minority community votes were tilting towards it. He accused BJP and BSP of having “secret understanding” with each other. The former Chief Minister claimed that in UP the Congress is surviving on “oxygen support”.
While condemning the implementation of currency withdrawal move, the BSP leader per se did not criticize the step saying it could have been implemented much better without causing “untold misery to the poorer sections”.
On another query, she claimed that it was only her party that lives off on “workers contribution” while other parties including the BJP were dependent on the black money. Pointing out to BJP President Amit Shah’s comment that it was the BSP which lost most on account of the Modi-Government’s drive against black money, Mayawati said “ it is an anti-Dalit comment” and reflected” an ochi mansikta”.
Hitting back, BJP claimed it seems all the money Mayawati had collected by “selling” party tickets in elections have gone waste with demonetisation and that the move has hit at the roots of politicians-bureaucrats nexus in “looting” public money.
It also rejected as “baseless” her allegation that the demonetisation decision was taken keeping its political interests in mind, saying she was staring at a “massive loss” in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and levelling unfounded charges in desperation.
“Modi is targeting black money but leaders like Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav (UP Chief Minister) are targeting him. People rejected her in 2012 and then in 2014 polls. BSP was a movement during Kanshi Ram’s time but is busy collecting money under her. It seem all the money she had collected by selling poll tickets have gone waste with demonetisation,” BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma told reporters.
To Mayawati’s charge that there was tacit understanding between BJP and SP, he said it was in fact SP and BSP which had joined hands against BJP. Had it been not so, then the accused in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam, which allegedly happened under the BSP rule, would have been punished, he said.