West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has vociferously been opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government’s demonetisation move, said “note-bandi” (note ban) was a scandal unfolding slowly.
“We have documents how land was purchased by the BJP just before demonetisation. The party is looting the country without declaring emergency. People must teach it a lesson in the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan polls,” she said in Lucknow during her party’s demonstration at 1090 Crossing in Gomti Nagar on Tuesday.
Read | PM Modi takes veiled digs at Mamata, Congress over demonetisation issue
“Demonetisation is not a fight against black money, but a ‘black emergency’ that left millions of people suffering... You (Modi) did note-bandi and people will do vote-bandi (no votes).This is a fight for people’s rights” she said told the large gathering, which included scores of Samajwadi Party supporters. Ministers from UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s cabinet were also present at the rally.
Mamata, who took out protests in New Delhi and Kolkata against demonetisation, criticised the PM for asking his party MPs to disclose their bank transactions by December 30. She demanded the disclosure begin with party president Amit Shah, besides challenging Modi to reveal his account details.
Political rivals have been conducting rallies in UP as the state heads towards assembly polls early next year, each hoping to curry favour from the electorally significant state -- UP has the most number of seats in the Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}Political rivals have been conducting rallies in UP as the state heads towards assembly polls early next year, each hoping to curry favour from the electorally significant state -- UP has the most number of seats in the Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}Read | Demonetisation has hit those seeking money for poll tickets: PM Modi
“Be it the freedom struggle or the fight for land rights, UP has always been at the forefront of movements in India. The state has also given India several Prime Ministers from Nehruji’s time. And with elections drawing closer, I saw an opportunity to educate people why they should not vote for the BJP,” she said, adding, “Now the Samajwadi Party and Trinamool are one.” She further pitched for Yadav to be re-elected in 2017.
Continuing her anit-Modi call -- the CM has vowed to “evict PM Modi from politics” -- Mamata demanded that Modi rollback the demonetisation or forfeit his post. Attacking Modi, she said he was only giving speeches while failing to give ration to people. “Modi ji, if UP has made you PM, then it has power to remove you from the same post... They (BJP) believe in the politics of riots and do not work for people. There are so many villages which do not have banks. How will people survive?”