Demonetization: Latest remarks by Mamta, AIDMK, Samajwadi Party, Congress, NCP, Jaitley

Mamata attacks PM, says ‘Mann ki Baat’ is ‘Modi ki Baat’

New Delhi:In a stinging attack on the Prime Minister, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio programme was a “misuse” of the government machinery as it has now become ‘Modi ki Baat’.

“Modiji, you have finished India’s economy and growth. We don’t trust you or your mismatched wrong technology which you are advertising for. We want technology and progress. But no section of society is to be left out and tortured while doing this (demonetisation),” Banerjee said in a statement.

Observing that “‘Mann ki Baat’ has now become ‘Modi ki Baat’, she said the Prime Minister was “misusing government machinery. Instead of finding solutions to the suffering and pain of millions of people, he is doing personal vendetta, personal publicity and business.”

“The women of our country will give you a befitting reply. They are the mothers of India. They are the mothers of all, Mr Today’s PM,” the Trinamool Congress chief said.

In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address today, the Prime Minister warned unscrupulous elements not to play with the lives of the poor by depositing illegal money into their accounts as stringent law against ‘benami’ transactions were in place to deal with them.

Jairam Ramesh barb: Jaitley defends RBI Guv Urjit Patel

New Delhi:Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday came to the defence of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel in the wake of criticism by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, saying it is an “unfair attack” and politicians should refrain from making comments on those who cannot defend themselves.

“An unfair attack by Jairam Ramesh on the RBI Governor.

Must politicians attack those who can’t defend themselves in the same tone?” he said in a tweet.

In an article written in National Herald, Congress spokesperson Ramesh alleged that RBI was kept in the dark by the government about its surprise demonetisation move.

“Urjit Patel is either guilty of misleading the nation about RBI’s preparedness on demonetisation or has sacrificed the autonomy of RBI. Either way, he should resign,” Ramesh had said.

“RBI is the monetary authority of India and is solely responsible for making bank notes available to all residents of India. If RBI headed by Patel gave its approval to the Prime Minister’s demonetisation plan, then ostensibly RBI was confident of making currency notes available easily.”

He complained that there are not enough notes in the system and this shortage can continue for at least a few more weeks, if not months.

Questioning the RBI Governor’s “stoic silence” through the entire currency crisis of the last two weeks, Ramesh said the central bank is independent and autonomous and needs to clarify on the current situation.

“How can the head of RBI that is solely responsible for the current currency crisis not be seen clarifying and assuring the nation amid this grave crisis?” he questioned.

Note ban decision taken to financially harm BJP’s rivals: SP

Lucknow: Ruling Samajwadi Party today said the demonetisation decision of the Narendra Modi government smacked of an attempt at “financially harming” rival political parties ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

But, people who are facing severe hardships because of the note ban will “punish” BJP in the Assembly elections and teach the saffron party a lesson, SP National Vice President Kironmay Nanda said here.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move is aimed at financial harming rival political parties in 2017 UP Assembly polls. This poll is a do or die for BJP. BJP thought that due to impact of demonetisation, rival parties in the state will not be able to withdraw money for polls,” Nanda told PTI in an interview.

“BJP does not know that this step is going to be ‘atmghati’ (suicidal) for the party. People who are standing in long queues for getting their own money will vote against BJP to vent their ire,” he said.

While making it clear that SP is not against a curb on black money, the senior SP MP said the way in which demonetisation has been done showed “inexperience” of policy makers.

“This is creating problems for common man and SP is against it,” he said.

“In this vast country four out of every five village do not have banking facilities. Villagers there depend on the rich for their money needs. Due to demonetisation labourers are not getting job and they are starving. Centre has not given these issues a thought before banning 86 per cent of the currency,” he said.

“The way in which Union Finance Ministry is changing rules on daily basis only showed that they were not ready to deal with the impact of demonetisation move,” he said.

The ruling SP is against the demonetisation move in view of the hardships being faced by the commoners and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav personally conveyed this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for releasing more funds to cooperative banks due to the cash-crunch they are facing due to demonetisation.

Akhilesh, who met Modi in Delhi last week, highlighted the hardships of farmers in the state due to the cash-crunch triggered by the demonetisation decision.

“The Prime Minister is aware of the hardships of the people. Farmers are unhappy and are facing a lot of trouble.

This is the time for sowing…There are so many co-operative banks…When will they get the money,” the chief minister had said after his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Akhilesh had earlier written to Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the plight of the people following demonetisation.

Nanda pointed out that the Samajwadi Party government has on its part taken certain measures to ease the problems being faced by the common people.

The Chief Minister has instructed top officials to deal sympathetically with those standing in queues trying to withdraw money or exchange notes.

Instructing District Magistrates and Police Superintendents to deal with all sections of society with a sympathetic and sensitive attitude, the chief minister warned respective district administrations that those found responsible for inappropriate behaviour with people will face stern action.

The chief minister also directed all DMs to ensure that farmers do not face any problem in procuring seeds,fertilisers and other goods since rabi sowing is currently on.

PM ‘slighting’ constitution by not answering Parl: AIADMK

Chennai:In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation issue, AIADMK today said by talking about it only outside Parliament, he was “slighting the constitution and democracy.”

Listing a set of questions over demonetisation and its implications, AIADMK said, “the Prime Minister who is supposed to answer all these questions is slighting the constitution and democracy by seeking to explain about it only in places other than the Parliament”.

“..Having many loopholes (in implementing demonetisation), the BJP’s claim to root out blackmoney is like cultivation of desert by drawing water using a bucket that has a sieve for its bottom,” the Tamil Nadu ruling party said in its Tamil mouthpiece, ‘Dr Namadhu MGR’.

Besides comparing the effort to root out black money with a vain bid to draw water using a bucket full of holes, the AIADMK also claimed that people were incensed at such an exercise of “sham.”

Mocking the BJP, it said the partymen do not “shine in their work” and it was a known fact that their “action does not commensurate with their big talks”.

The mouthpiece said people were “angry,” that the demonetisation move had been “reportedly leaked to many,” and a Gujarati daily had even published beforehand about it.

AIADMK said people were incensed by norms like an upper limit even for withdrawals for weddings.

Stating that there were “confusing announcements,” and a “daily notification,” specifying norms for deposits and withdrawal of scrapped notes, the party said people have reached at a “boiling point,” even as holidays were declared by banks to “hide non-receipt of (adequate) currency”.

It termed the RBI’s directive immediately after demonetisation that cooperative banks cannot accept scrapped notes, as “discriminatory” since lakhs of farmers were part of such cooperatives.

AIADMK alleged that micro, small trade was facing sluggishness and mills were curtailing their work force.

The Jayalalithaa-led party also referred to other issues like the Indian rupee hitting a record low level against USD (on November 24, it hit an all-time low of 68.86 against the USD before recovering partially to end the day at 68.73– a 39-month closing low) besides Nepal banning new Indian Rs 500, Rs 2,000 notes and alleged quality issues in the new notes.

On Wednesday, AIADMK had joined hands with other opposition parties in staging protests both inside and outside Parliament on the demonetisation issue.

Stop ‘Mann ki Baat’ as people don’t believe Modi anymore: NCP

Mumbai: NCP today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address “Mann ki Baat” should be stopped as he has “failed” to keep his words and people have “lost faith” in his promises.

“Modi is communicating his thoughts through his radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’, but unfortunately, he has repeatedly failed to adhere to his own words, and has lost his repute among the countrymen, and therefore we demand him to stop this radio show,” NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said in a statement.

Malik alleged people are “feeling cheated” over halting the exchange of the defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the central government.

Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister over hardships being caused to the common people in the wake of the demonetisation, Malik said, “While addressing the nation on demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, Modi had assured people that they would be able to exchange their money (with a cap of Rs 4,000 per day) through banks and post offices till December 30, but it was stopped in only 15 days and those who thought they had long time to exchange notes, are feeling cheated.”

Malik added that people have “lost faith” in the promises made by Modi.

“Prime Minister’s address to the nation, be it from Red Fort of Delhi or from elsewhere, is considered to be the words or promise made to the entire country. But the way, in the last 15 days, this (demonetisation) message has been twisted and turned for his own convenience… People have lost faith in his promises.

“And when people lose faith in their ruler, this indicates towards a serious outcome and therefore, to avoid it, I am demanding Modi to stop his radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’,” the NCP leader said.

Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP organised events at 328 places in Mumbai today to enable people listen to ‘Mann Ki Baat’ over tea, dubbing the programme ‘Mann Ki Baat, Chai Ke Saath’.

PTI