Demonetisation: Mamata Banerjee calls Modi govt anti-poor; TMC gives a notice in Rajya Sabha

Raising her pitch against Modi government at the Centre on demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday night called upon all opposition parties to unite and fight against the “political and financial anarchy” even as TMC gave a notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue on November 16.

“May I appeal to all political parties in the Opposition to work together boldly against the anti-poor government at the Centre. Let us fight this political and financial anarchy together. We will be with you all,” Banerjee said in a statement.

Earlier, reacting to a question on how will the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes play out for the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh polls, she told reporters at the state secretariat, “They will suffer a big loss. A wrong message has gone to the people. It won’t be able to control the damage.”

She said when people decide to retaliate, political parties cannot win elections by money. Mocking the Prime Minister, she said Narendra Modi “has gone to Japan after making the people poor in India.” Prime Minister Modi today embarked on a three-day visit to Japan.

“They had promised to return black money from abroad.  They couldn’t do it and has turned common people beggars. Who gave them this right?” Banerjee said.

Saying that India was now going through a phase of “financial anarchy”, she pointed out how even her own household was suffering as she had to live on ‘muri’ and ‘aalu bhaja’ for dinner tonight. “I don’t buy things from government money. I buy it from my own money,” she said.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise announcement on Tuesday evening, Banerjee had slammed the Centre for the move and said it had resulted in “complete disaster and chaos”. She had urged the Modi government to rescind the “hasty decision”.

TMC leader in the Upper House Derek OBrien told PTI, “Today we gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue suspending business under Rule 267 on November 16.”

Party leader in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay also said the party would bring an adjournment motion in the Lower House on the same issue on November 16.

Derek, also the chief national spokesperson of TMC, said it was vital that black money hoarders and the corrupt were punished, but it must not be done by inconveniencing the common people and the poor.

He said there must be a proper action plan for implementation of such an extensive move which directly affects millions, specially the middle class and the poor.