Demonetisation brouhaha: Opposition plans to corner Maharashtra government, CM says he is ready
The Opposition is also likely to target the government over the centre’s decision of disallowing co-operative banks to exchange demonetised currency, which virtually paralysed the banks
Demonetisation will be the main weapon in the arsenal of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-led Opposition, which will try to corner the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government over various issues in the winter session of Maharashtra Legislature that begins in Nagpur on Monday. Winter session of the state legislature is held in Nagpur, the second capital of the state.
“The people, especially the poor and farmers, are suffering due to the decision of demonetisation which will be highlighted in the session,” said Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, leader of the opposition in the Assembly. His view was shared by his counterpart in legislative council, Dhananjay Munde. The common man has been spending time waiting in serpentine queues outside banks or ATMs to withdraw cash and on the other hand, the rural economy is on the verge of collapse, thanks to the demonetisation, the Opposition leaders said.
The Opposition is also likely to target the government over the centre’s decision of disallowing co-operative banks to exchange demonetised currency, which virtually paralysed the banks. It affected the farmers as in most of the rural areas farmers have accounts with these banks and rely on them for farm credit.
However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who just led the party to victory in local body elections in 147 small cities, is confident of tackling the Opposition.
“There is a vast gap between the ground realities and the picture they [Opposition parties] are painting. On demonetisation, the people are with the government and are facing all hardships in the interest of the nation,” Fadnavis told the media on the eve of the winter session.
Besides demonetisation, the Opposition has also decided to raise issues such as Maratha community’s demand for reservation in government jobs and education, incident involving rape of minor girls in a tribal boarding school in Buldhana, death of children due to malnutrition, plight of farmers and allegations of corrupt practices against some ministers.
However, Fadnavis seemed unfazed by the Opposition’s plans. “We are set to take on the Opposition and show what the government has done in last two years and also to project the road map for the remaining three years,”he said. Has anyone seen my chameleon this morning? He has to be hiding somewhere. He asked me if we could play hide-and-go-seek, and then disappeared into thin air. I've looked high and low in the yard and the house and it seems like he's nowhere around. He's probably hiding right out in the open but doesn't yet want to be found. I'm guessing he looks like a leaf on a bush or the back of a sofa or chair. He could be disguised as a book or a bagel. Regardless, I don't think it's fair. If you come across my chameleon, please tell him I give up. He beat me today. He's clearly the champion at hiding so, next time, it's my turn to pick what we play.
