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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Demonetization round-up: What Narendra Modi’s political rivals are saying
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Demonetization round-up: What Narendra Modi’s political rivals are saying

A meeting of the Congress, the Left parties, TMC, NCP, JDU, to evolve a common strategy to corner the govt. over demonetization in Parliament's winter session failed

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will meet President Pranab Mukherjee to register her protest against the Modi government’s sudden withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Photo: PTIPremium
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will meet President Pranab Mukherjee to register her protest against the Modi government’s sudden withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: A week after the Narendra Modi government’s decision to implement India’s biggest demonetization drive to eliminate black money, fake currency and corruption, the detractors of the Prime Minister are trying to rally the opposition and people against the government. A major demand that has come from several political quarters is that the government should rollback the move and extend the deadline to let people use the old currency notes.

The government found some support from the Supreme Court, which refused to stay the government’s notification demonetizing Rs500, Rs1,000 currency notes. But the apex court asked the government to file a report on the steps taken to reduce public inconvenience.

A meeting of the opposition parties, including Congress, the Left parties, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Janata Dal (United) (JDU), on Tuesday to evolve a common strategy to corner the government in the winter session (which begins on Wednesday) of Parliament failed. The leaders will meet again on Wednesday.

Here is what has been said so far:

Arvind Kejriwal: “In the name of black money, PM Narendra Modi has served poison to the people of this country calling it a ‘kadak’ chai. It is for the first time in history of independent India, a sitting PM’s name has come in black money transactions," reports The Economic Times. The Delhi chief minister made the comments while moving a resolution in the assembly urging President to direct Centre to withdraw demonetisation scheme. Kejriwal also demanded a Supreme Court monitored probe into the entire exercise.

Earlier in an interview to Network18, the Delhi chief minister had said: “People who have black money are also of two kinds. One, who are the friends of Modiji, of the BJP; and ones who are not the friends of Modi ji, or the BJP. Modiji’s people, those belonging to the BJP had information of this move a week to two months earlier – they got the signal that such a move will come, you take care of your money, aap apne paise thikane lagalo’."

Akhilesh Yadav: “I am very clear on this...black money should not be generated. Economic experts say the magnitude of the global economic crisis at times is not felt in India because of strong (parallel) economy of black money."

Mamata Banerjee: “There are thousands of areas where there are no proper banking or post office facilities. What will the people there do? The people of this country have been turned into beggars due to demonetisation move," as Mint reports.

She also added: “Black mechanism’ with indelible ink shows this government distrusts the common people."

P. Chidambaram tweeted: “Millions of working people standing in queue. Long live Productivity. Thousands of ‘rich’ and ‘corrupt’ persons standing in queue. The poor are cheering from their homes! Banks are doling out cash to citizens. That is proof that ‘Achhe Din’ have arrived!"

S. Sudhakar Reddy, general secretary, the Communist Party of India (CPI), demanded the Centre should allow use of old notes till 31 December: “If the Prime Minister is sincere, he should apologise to the nation and set right things by allowing people to use the old currency till 31 December for all public utilities like journeys, hospitals, medical shops, tax payments, phone payments, to purchase foodgrains, and essential commodities."

Kapil Sibal: “Modi ji said, Rs80 trillion is outside India & he would bring it back in 100 days. Where is the Black Money? As far as Black Money is concerned, Modi ji has yet to give the names to the Supreme Court. PM is unable to understand the hardships of the common man."

Amarinder Singh, former Pubjab chief minister: “People are dying, with your ‘kadak chai’ (strong tea) giving them ulcers on empty stomachs. Those standing in long queues at ATMs and banks to exchange/withdraw a few thousand rupees of their hard-earned money, those dying in hospitals due to refusal to accept old currency, and those going to bed on an empty stomach-are the actual sufferers of this move. The vision of your ‘kadak chai’ haunting them in their nightmares are not the rich and mighty, but the poorest of the poor of this country," reports PTI.

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Published: 15 Nov 2016, 05:47 PM IST
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