 "Economic emergency: Oppn lashes out at Modi for demonetising Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes")
The Opposition came down heavily on the Narendra Modi government over the inconvenience caused to the people due to demonetisation. While many have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of working against the people, some have called the move as 'economic emergency'.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called upon all opposition parties to unite and fight against the "political and financial anarchy" even as Trinamool Congress gave a notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue on November 16.
Taking the nation by surprise, PM Modi on Tuesday night announced demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes with effect from midnight, making these notes invalid in a major assault on black money, fake currency and corruption.
Here is who said what:
Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice-President: Once again Narendra Modi shows how little he cares about ordinary ppl of this country-farmers, small shopkeepers, housewives-all thrown into utter chaos. While the real culprits sit tight on their black money stashed away abroad or in bullion/ real estate. Well done Modi. One question for the Prime Minister: How is replacing Rs 1,000 notes with Rs 2,000 notes going to make black money hoarding a lot harder?
Anand Sharma, Congress leader: It would be absurd on the part of the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister to say that those who are having their own savings accounts in banks, the government has a right to impose a limit.
How can the government tell a tax payer, a person who has earned one's living and saved some money in the bank that they cannot withdraw it and the government has the right to impose a limit of Rs 2,000? That is questionable, that is not fair and is unjust.
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Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister: While I'm strongly against black money, corruption, deeply concerned about common people, small traders. How they will buy essentials? This is a financial chaos and disaster let loose on the common people of India. The PM could not get back the promised black money from abroad from the rich so a drama to divert his failure.
I want to know from the PM how my poorest brothers and sisters, who've received their week's hard earned wage in one Rs 500 note will buy aata, chawal? Heartless and ill-conceived blow on the common people and the middle class in the fake name of anti-corruption. Withdraw this draconian decision.
Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister: There is evidence that their (BJP) friends and own people were informed a week before the decision was announced.
They have made all arrangements like buying property or gold. BJP is going to fight polls in Uttar Pradesh and other states. It has made arrangements.
Common men are the only ones suffering. I spoke to many people, they told me that black money holders have done settings already. Money will be delivered to their homes in lieu of 15 to 20 per cent commission.
Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: The government should ensure that farmers, common citizens, and small businesses don't suffer in exchanging currency. The Central government must setup special banking counters in villages and district centres to assist the public, villagers and farmers.
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party supremo: The sudden ban on high denomination notes has caused immense hardships to commoners, farmers and the poor, the demonetisation has been done by the NDA government with an eye on elections, and not keeping plight of people in mind
The majority of black money is lying in the country in form of foreign currency or gold. Demonetisation has only added to the woes of common man. Instead of bringing back black money from foreign countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created anarchy in the country with this move.
Modi has ensured that just a few people hold the country to ransom. Congress had imposed Emergency and invoked MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), BJP government has created a similar situation.
Mayawati, Bahujan Samaj Party Chief: Just before UP elections, Narendra 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.
People from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are feeling harassed due to the sudden move. By terming it a surgical strike, BJP president Amit Shah is doing 'andh-bhakti' (blind support) on Modi. Had it been a raid on 500 or 1,000 capitalists, it could have been termed as surgical strike and would have been appreciated.
Sitaram Yechury, CPI-M General Secretary: What are the estimates of black money that will be curbed by this move? Government should make the figures public. What is the cost of withdrawing currency notes and replacing them with Rs 2,000 notes? Also, its economic and social costs must be made public.
If no such data exists, as one fears, it only proves that it is another 'jumla' like Rs 15 lakh in each account or 2 crore jobs per year.
Asaduddin owaisi, AIMIM MP: It has been done in a hasty way and now you have all these middle-class, poor people, labourers, agriculture labourers, drivers who are in deep, deep trouble. It's a panic situation. This is going to cause huge panic, turmoil. It has already caused turmoil in markets. It has spread panic among the poor and common man.