Mamata calls Cong, Left to join movement against cash crunch

HT, 6 Dec 2016, Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked Left parties and Congress to be part of her movement against demonetisation .

“I think all opposition parties should unite on this issue and forget politics. Some parties are supporting this movement in New Delhi. However, their state units are taking a different position. I want to ask the state units of these parties whether they have the permission of their central leadership to take a different position,” the chief minister said on the floor of the Assembly on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, she also launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership for selective leaks on demonetisation. “That is why they have used black money to buy huge plots of land in different parts of the country. The BJP leadership was aware of the decision and hence they deposited black money or exchanged old currencies before demonetisation. The party has also purchased land in Bengal,” the chief minister said.

The state BJP leadership, however, challenged Mamata’s comments and said she should prove that land was purchased using unaccounted money. “The plots were purchased to set up party offices in all districts in the country. The chief minister should prove that unaccounted money was used for the purpose,” said a state BJP leader.

The chief minister added there is a major scam behind the demonetisation decision. “This is a big scam and should be probed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India,” the chief minister said.

According to her, the Prime Minister is considers himself above god and hence is bulldozing the masses with “Hitlerlike” decisions.

“We are all against black money. But following the decision, soon a day will come that people will be left with no money at all, old or new,” the chief minister said.

She also took a dig at the Prime Minister’s regular foreign trips as well as his appearance in advertisements of certain private companies. “Have we ever seen any Prime Minister giving advertisements for a private company? On just this issue he should resign. In Bengal and Uttar Pradesh the new Rs 500 notes are not available. But they are available in Patna. This is discrimination,” the chief minister added.