Thiruvananthapuram Corporation denounces demonetisation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council passed a resolution denouncing the centre’s demonetisation decision. It was not part of the original agenda. After it was presented by Town Planning Committee Chairperson Satheesh Kumar and UDF’s Beemapalli Rasheed, the Council adopted the resolution with the BJP registering its opposition. The resolution, while denouncing the move, also suggested that the motive behind it was to obliterate cooperative institutions in the country. It said that people in the rural areas, where the banking network was not very strong, relied entirely on cooperative banks and societies.

After UDF councillors like Johnson Joseph said that the move had brought the cooperative bank sector to a standstill, BJP’s Girikumar asked if UDF councillors did not support their leader A K Antony. “Antony has welcomed the decision. Johnson Joseph are you ready to reject what your leader has supported?” he asked. Girikumar added that charges against the Central government acting in favour of rich businessmen were false. CPI’s Solomon Vettucaud pointed out that earlier too the government had chosen to demonetise, however it was through an ordinance, while this was a declaration.

He said that it affected the common man as Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes were used by 86% of the population. He said that actual black money hoarders would not be dealing in hard cash, and would have turned everything into gold and real estate. While the sudden decision had brought much misery to the common man, the Prime Minister was having a great time in a foreign country, said Nedumcaud councillor S Pushpalatha. The ones who cast suspicion on common people, causing 47 who passed away in the aftermath of demonetisation, should come under the scanner, said Mayor V K Prasanth. The resolution was put to vote and passed.