Posted: Post Date – 03:06 PM, Tuesday – Nov 8
New Delhi: Describing demonetisation as “economic genocide” and a “criminal act”, the opposition party slammed the BJP-led centre’s decision to scrap high-value banknotes on this day in 2016.
On November 8, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the abolition of the old 1,000 rupee and 500 rupee banknotes. In addition to eliminating terrorist funding, the main goal of the decision is to facilitate digital payments and curb black money.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesman and party leader Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said the move was a “stunt”.
In a tweet, he said: “6 years ago, today. A stunt that turned out to be an economic genocide #demonetisation. Wrote this in my 2017 #InsideParliament book.
O’Brien also noted that West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supreme Leader Mamata Banerjee had called for the decision to be withdrawn.
“@MamataOfficial first called it ‘withdrawing this draconian decision’ minutes after the announcement. Others agreed, but only a few weeks later.” Sitharam Yechuri, General Secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (Sitaram Yechury) accused the government of “bragging itself on the criminality of #Demonetisation, contrary to all good reason, evidence and advice”.
“Modi’s sixth anniversary and his government’s megalomania stifled the Indian economy. In addition to a record high of cash in circulation, demonetization has led to chaos. ? 30.88 billion euros! Worst of all — ‘This This pain only lasted 50 days’,” Yechuri tweeted.
Senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Binoy Viswam also slammed the government and said the steps to abolish high-value banknotes six years ago were hyped and promised an end to black money and terrorism, adding, Now is the time to assess how it can help the country.
“Now is the time to evaluate these commitments. Ask the Prime Minister to submit a white paper on demonetization,” the leftist leader tweeted.
