Demonetisation war: Samajwadi Party invites Shiv Sena to take part in 'national protest'

Appreciating Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for supporting former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over demonetisation of high-value currency, Samajwadi Party on Friday urged the former to take part in the shutdown being observed by the opposition party on November 28.

"Manmohan Singh is an intellectual man, he is a well known economist and senior politician. If he saying that the step taken by the Prime Minister will affect the economy of the nation then one should have taken his advice. I laud Uddhav Thackeray for supporting him," Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi told ANI.

Azmi said that the entire Maharashtra should observe shutdown on Monday in the wake of the demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes adding that Thackeray should take some serious steps over this issue.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is following a Hitler policy. The change in demonitisation norms everyday shows that they have not done any preparation on it," he said.

On Thursday, Thackeray asserted Prime Minister Modi should have prior to implementation of the scheme taken the views of his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh seriously as he is an eminent economist.

"Former prime minister Manmohan Singh is an eminent economist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must take his viewpoint seriously before implementation of demonetisation," said Thackeray.

Thackeray said there is no meaning of the Prime Minister getting emotional and shedding tears during his speeches, adding the latter should have instead made efforts to wipe out the tears of the general public.

Later in the day, the Centre announced that there will be no counter exchange of old Rs. 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes after the midnight today.

However, certain exemptions relating to cancellation of legal tender character of old currency notes has been extended up to December 15, including for the payment of current and arrears dues to utilities which will be limited to only water and electricity.