Bengal assembly passes resolution against demonetisation

The West Bengal assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution rejecting the central government's decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes and sought a rollback.

The opposition Congress and the Left Front, besides the BJP, opposed the resolution.

The Left and the Congress, however, opposed the demonetisation move, but did not back the resolution which called for a reversal of the decision,

"We couldn't back the resolution as they had demanded a rollback, which, we feel, would trigger a bigger crisis in the economy," Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan told reporters.

The resolution was brought by the ruling Trinamool Congress on Monday, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee moving it.

Participating in the discussion, Finance Minister Amit Mitra said his party was in the fight against black money, but condemned the way the central government has gone about the demonetisation, causing immense hardship to the common man, particularly the poor people, and triggering havoc in the rural economy.

"The decision has been arrived at without any planning.

"The directionless leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi has created an unprecedented crisis," said Mitra.

Left Front legislature party leader Sujan Chakraborty regretted that amendments moved by their lawmakers were not accepted.

Taking a pot shot at the Trinamool Congress, he said: "People who are neck-deep in corruption, have not moral authority to preach about black money."

--IANS

ssp/vd