 "Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. (Photo: PTI)")
After joining the chorus of cries criticising Prime Minister Narendra over the tectonic step of demonetisation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced a relief measure for farmers in the state saying that old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes will be accepted for land registration till November 24th.
This announcement came after Akhilesh called on the Centre to to at least keep the farmers out of the currency scrapping move as they needed the money to purchase fertilisers and seeds.
"I have said this repeatedly that at least the farmers should be given a discount as they have to purchase seeds, medicines, diesel etc. How much money would a farmer have? But the government is categorising the farmers as black money holders. If a person has Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 even they are in the category of black money holders," Akhilesh told media.
"This is wrong. The central government did not act with a proper mindset. They were not prepared about this. They have not done it wisely, because of which the people have to suffer," he added.
Addressing media persons, he said, "If you are not getting the salaries in cheques then understand that you are going to lose your jobs. Just think how many people are going to lose their jobs. If you will lose your jobs, then tell me "kadwi chai kiski hai? Swaad kiska kharaab hua? "
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He further said that the Samajwadi Party has always been in support of curbing corruption, and added that the Centre should have thought about the decision as people have lost their lives while standing in queues just like in 1946.
"It's not that we are not against black money or corruption. We, the members of the Samajwadi Party, have always been against black money. We have worked on the path of curbing corruption. But the preparation has exposed the government. The government which gives pain to the nation, the people removes that government," he said.
"The government would have at least thought that earlier when the decision of demonetisation took place, then how much loss and how much people had to suffer. People have lost their lives then also and even now," he added.
Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a parivartan rally in Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh), agreed with the demonetisation decision as 'kadak' (strong).
He referred to his own background as a tea-seller and said "My decision is kadak (strong) When I was a child, the poor would ask me to make kadak chai . The poor are fond of it. I have a habit since childhood of making kadak chai. It suits the poor but warps the expression of the rich."
Meanwhile, continuing his assault, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has hit back at the Prime Minister saying that the former was branding his demonetisation initiative as "khadak chai" for the poor and not suiting the rich, but this was more of a poison for the "aam aadmi".
Participating in a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal accused the Prime Minister of protecting his "corporate friends" and exploiting the poor.
"He has been claiming that the decision is an attack on black money, but it is an attack on common people. He is protecting his friends. These businessmen pay Prime Minister Modi and in response the Prime Minister ensures that the income tax department does not conduct raids on these businessmen's house," Kejriwal said.
"You (Prime Minister Modi) say that the poor man is drinking "kadvi chai". But the truth is that, the Prime Minister is offering poison to them in the name of black money," he added.
Kejrwial further alleged that when the Prime Minister Modi was Gujarat's Chief Minister, he took Rs.25 crore as a bribe from the Aditya Birla Group firm.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi Government passed a resolution asking President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Centre to withdraw the "draconian" demonetisation scheme.
"This assembly resolves to urge upon the Honourable President of India to take necessary steps to institute a high-level probe to be monitored by the Honourable Supreme Court of India to look into the allegations that the scheme is fraud on the nation and that it has been launched to benefit a particular political party through its agents in black money," the resolution stated.
