Oppn parties, BJP spar over demonetisation

Lucknow/New Delhi: The opposition parties and BJP on Friday sparred over the Centre's ban on high denomination notes with BSP chief Mayawati calling the action imposition of "undeclared economic emergency" and the ruling party asserting it was a fight against black money.

The opposition parties--SP, BSP and AAP--also questioned the timing of the move, claiming it was linked to the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Echoing Mayawati's sentiments, arch rival and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said the "sudden ban" showed the NDA government did not keep the plight of people in mind and took the decision with an eye on UP polls.

The Trinamool Congress gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to suspend business on the opening day of Winter Session of Parliament on November 16 to discuss the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes, saying it was inconveniencing the poor.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that BJP and its "friends" were informed about the demonetisation of high value currency "a week before" the move was effected, especially keeping the UP polls in mind.

"Just before UP elections, Modi has realised the problem of black money after remaining in the saddle at the Centre for two-and-a-half years. Ninety per cent people are unhappy with this decision," Mayawati told a press conference in Lucknow.

She said poor people and farmers have been badly hit by high denomination rupee ban decision.

"It (the decision) is not in the interest of the people, it is in self-interest," she said, reminding people of the dark days of Emergency imposed by then Congress government.

Had Modi been honest in his approach, he would not have waited for two-and-a-half years to take action against black money, she said.

"Centre has not thought about the poor and the way in which people formed serpentine queues at petrol pumps shows their connivance with the government for earning a quick buck," she said, adding people will punish BJP for this.

At another press conference in Lucknow, Mulayam said the the demonetisation has been done by the NDA government with an eye on elections, and not keeping plight of people in mind.

The SP patriarch demanded a roll back of the decision for a few days in view of the wedding season.

A top BJP leader said the party's fight against black money and corruption will continue, observing that the common man will not be impacted at all with the demonetising exercise.

"More measures will be taken(by the Centre). We are committed to curbing black money," the leader said during an informal interaction with journalists in New Delhi.

He said the "war chest" of both the ruling SP and BSP for the UP polls has been "hit hard" with the move to demonetise Rs 1000/500 notes.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said only those with unaccounted income will face the consequences.

BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav questioned the stand of CPIM and party-led LDF government in Kerala on demonetisation and sought to know whether it stood with the poor or with blackmoney holders and fake currency racketeers.

TMC leader in the Upper House Derek O'Brien said it was vital that the black money hoarders and the corrupt were punished, but it must not be done by inconveniencing the common people and the poor.