81.50 lakh people became unemployed in Bengal after demonetisation: Mamata

TH, 6 January 2017, Kolkata: Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that the State has suffered a revenue loss of Rs.5500 crore and 81.50 lakh people have become unemployed due to demonetisation. Ms. Banerjee was speaking to reporters after holding an administrative meeting in Kolkata.

“In the last two months since demonetisation was announced we (State government) have suffered a revenue loss of Rs.5500 crore. While more than 1.7 crore people have been adversely affected due to note bandi (demonetisation) 81.50 lakh people have become unemployed in Bengal,” said Ms. Banerjee. She also said that the figures came up in a survey conducted by the State government adding that loss of jobs took place in mainly in the tea, jute, bidi and jewellery sector.

The Chief Minister further argued that since the agricultural sector has been hit hard due to the ongoing cash crunch farmers are unable to grow rabi crops (winter crops). “This will result into price rise. When people do not have cash they (Centre) are trying to introduce a cashless economy,” said Ms. Banerjee.

She urged all the political parties to rise above “narrow differences” and form a national government for greater interest of the country. “I urge all the political parties to form a national government under a common minimum programme till the next general elections. I also appeal to the President to save the country from this crisis,” said Ms. Banerjee.

The Chief Minister also said that she has “no objection” even if the national government is led a by any senior leader of the BJP apart from Mr. Modi. “It seems that there is no government. Democratic rights are being bulldozed (by the Centre). In the name of governance a reign of terror is going on in the country,” said Ms. Banerjee.