West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by leaders of the National Conference, the Aam Aadmi Party, NDA ally Shiv Sena and Hardik Patel’s new party, called on President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday demanding an immediate rollback of the government’s demonetisation move.
A few other Opposition parties that were also critical of the way the demonetisation exercise had been undertaken did not join the march.
Ms. Banerjee submitted a memorandum voicing serious concern at the crisis arising out of a ban on Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500 currency notes. Among those who joined her in the march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan from the Parliament House were MPs from her own party, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, Shiv Sena MP Harshul, and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“We had a successful meeting with the President,” she said. “And the President said he would look into the matter.” The situation arising out of demonetisation had triggered a sort of constitutional crisis, she said. Her next move would be to move an adjournment motion on the issue in the Lok Sabha.
‘Dictatorial move’
Ordinary people were facing a lot of hardship after the demonetisation, she said. “We have requested the President to speak to the government to bring back normality. The President was once a Finance Minister and understands the country’s situation better than anyone else. He will take appropriate action.”
Describing the government’s move as “dictatorial and draconian,” the five-page memorandum sought its immediate suspension. “Ensure supply of essential commodities in adequate quantities,” it said.
The Shiv Sena, however, did not demand a rollback, instead it sought an extension of the deadline for accepting old currency notes. “We welcome demonetisation. But we are against the inconvenience caused to the people. We have not signed the memorandum,” said the Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar. “We will submit a separate memorandum seeking redressal for the inconvenience caused to the people.”
Working on a broader campaign against demonetisation, involving various political parties, Ms. Banerjee met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.
PTI reports:
Rahul seeks action against PM's “industrialist friends”
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sharpened his attack on the Modi government over demonetisation, saying no action was being taken against the “real black marketeers” and the “industrialist friends” of the Prime Minister.
Talking to reporters outside the Bhiwandi court in Thane district, after being granted bail in a defamation case, he said, “Those who are real black marketeers, those who have Rs 10-20000 crore, those who go with Modi in planes, action should be taken against them. No action is being taken.”
He said, “There is no investigation or action taken against Modiji’s industrialist friends. You are being made to stand in queues. Your money will be given to those select 15-20 industrialists. You all know their names. He [Mr. Modi] is running their government.”
Earlier, addressing Congress supporters who had gathered outside the court, Mr.Gandhi said long queues before banks and ATMs had caused problems for the common man. “The masses are standing in a queue. Do you see any rich person, a big industrialist standing in queue? Did you get Rs. 4000 notes? Did you get indelible ink mark on your hands?,” ” he asked.
Later, while returning from Bhiwandi, he stopped at the ATM of a public sector bank in Vakola here as he saw a long queue and interacted with the people, Congress leader Kripashankar Singh told PTI.
The Congress’s Twitter handle also posted a picture of Mr. Gandhi meeting the people in the queue.
“Listening to people’s woes as they try & access their hard earned money, SBI ATM, Vakola, Mumbai,” the tweet read.
