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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, led Opposition parties and BJP ally Shiv Sena in a protest march against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation drive.
While the Congress and the Left did not join the Trinamool Congress leader, the Opposition was reportedly united in a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha to demand an adjournment motion on the issue. The Government is believed to be resisting the demand for an adjournment although it is open to a debate under any other rule.
Banerjee, who was joined by leaders of the National Conference, AAP and Shiv Sena, submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee voicing serious concern over the crisis arising out of ban on ₹1000 and ₹500 currency notes.
Banerjee led a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan from Parliament along with TMC MPs, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, Shiv Sena MP Harshul, NC leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, among others.
However, the Shiv Sena had a slight difference of opinion on the issue and insisted the Government to extend the deadline of accepting the old currency notes.
“We welcome the demonetisation move. But we are against the inconvenience caused to people due to it. We have not signed the memorandum (that will be presented to the President Pranab Mukherjee). We are going to submit a separate memorandum seeking redressal of the inconvenience caused to people. We also want the period to be extended,” said Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena, who took part in the march.
President’s assurance “We had a successful meeting with the President during which we discussed the issue. And the President said he would look into the matter,” Mamata said, after emerging out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
She said the situation arising out of demonetisation has triggered a sort of constitutional crisis. Speaking about her next move on the issue, she said: “Our party will move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha”.
Expressing concern over the problems being faced by the people, Mamata said, “We have requested the President to speak to the government and decide on this and bring back normalcy in the country. The President was once the Finance Minister and knows the country’s situation better than anyone else, he will take appropriate action.”
Leaders of the other Opposition parties, including Congress, the Left parties, SP and BSP, did not take part in the protest march.
Describing the government’s demonetisation move as “dictatorial and draconian step”, the memorandum sought its immediate suspension.
“Stop harassment of the common people by lifting of all sorts of restrictions recently thrust upon them,” the five-page memorandum said, and added “ensure that supply of essential commodities in adequate quantities be restored in the markets forthwith.”
Before beginning the march from Parliament, Banerjee said “The march is to save common people from disaster.”
AAP leader Mann said the ban has affected the normal functioning of the household as there is no money available.
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