Mamata flays govt.'s desperate attempt to start "black mechanism"

Continuing her outburst against the BJP-led NDA regime over the move to demonetise high value currency, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday dubbed the government's fresh proposal that all bank branches will from now on use indelible ink marks for disbursing cash as a desperate attempt to start a 'black mechanism'.

"There is desperate attempt to start a 'black mechanism' with indelible ink. It shows this government distrusts the common people," Banerjee told the media here.

"Also, there are by-elections on November 19. What will the Election Commission say about this decision to put indelible on prospective voters?" he asked.

Stating that the situation post demonetisation was quite serious, the TMC supremo said that she would be meeting President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow to hand over a protest memorandum.

"We will meet the President tomorrow, no matter what. The Shiv Sena also assured us to join tomorrow's meeting with the President over the issue of demonetisation," she said.

Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Derek O'Brien told ANI that Mamata and leaders of other parties will meet the President at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

"Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah will also accompany Mamata Banerjee," he said.

The TMC supremo had earlier also tried to bring the Left on board on this issue.

The Congress, TMC, Left Parties, YSR Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) yesterday huddled to strike a common strategy for the Winter Session that starts on Wednesday and will continue till December 16.

Almost all opposition parties at the all-party meeting chaired yesterday by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said demonetisation had not been properly implemented, adding the move has led to chaos.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mahajan expressed hope that there will be a healthy discussion on various issues during the Winter Session. She said the members of various parties demanded a discussion on various issues including demonetisation of high value notes.

Prime Minister Modi, however, told the NDA allies that there was no need to be defensive on the government's decision as there is widespread support for it and people are ready to face hardships for larger gains.

He urged NDA allies to go to the public and explain the long-term benefits of demonetisation in curbing corruption and black money.

The Prime Minister also asked them not to buckle under the opposition's pressure.

Meanwhile, the government has convened an all-party meeting today to seek cooperation from leaders of the both the Houses for smooth functioning of Parliament.