Didi dares Centre to rollback demonetisation or face protest

Launching a blistering attack on the Centre over its decision to scrap the use of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked the BJP-led NDA Government to rollback the decision in three days or face intensified protest.

"If this decision (demonetisation) is not taken back in three days, we will intensify our protest. Today they announced that only Rs. 2,000 can be exchanged and not Rs. 4,000. What's going in their head? If the people are suffering, who would protect the Constitution? So I approached President Pranab Mukherjee. If vegetable mandi shut, what will people eat--diamond or ATM card?" Mamata said while addressing a rally of traders, farmers and labourers at Azadpur Mandi here.

Saying demonetisation will take the country backward by 100 years, Mamata said the crisis of this proportion was not seen even during the Emergency.

"We work according to the Constitution. You (Narendra Modi) have broken the Constitution. This situation has never taken place in Emergency. We will support you in your fight against black money. Our fight is not based on ego. If you snatch the rights of the common people, it will bring epidemic in the nation," she added.

The Trinamool Congress chief yesterday led a rainbow delegation of Opposition party leaders to Rashtrapati Bhavan in protest against the demonetisation move.

She submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee and sought his intervention on the issue.

Both the Houses of the Parliament were adjourned till tomorrow following uproar over the issue of demonetisation.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha had a rocky start to the Winter Session today as the government and the opposition again locked horns over a move to scrap Rs. 500 and 1,000 currency notes that has triggered chaos and confusion across the nation.