CPI-M leader attacks Trinamool on black money

A senior CPI-M leader on Sunday flayed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress on the issue of black money and demonetisation.

"How can she (Banerjee) talk of corruption when her own party members are involved in Saradha and Narada scams and have been caught red handed? What the BJP is doing at the Centre, she is doing in the state," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Mohammed Salim told IANS here.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes will cease to be legal tender from that midnight.

"She made a statement earlier also, inviting all opposition leaders to oppose Modi's move. The question is: Why is nobody responding? It is because of the credentials of Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress."

He said the Trinamool Congress and Banerjee had no moral right to talk against black money or even to talk about corruption because its leaders are themselves neck-deep in corruption.

"You encourage corruption in Bengal; you shield the culprits involved in black money transactions and at the same time raise your voice against Modi and the central government. So, who will believe you? Before raising your voice, you have to make your credentials very clear," Salim said.

Banerjee on Saturday said she was ready to work with the CPI-M and other opposition parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress, despite ideological differences, to help the commoners tackle the 'financial emergency' in the wake of demonetisation.

The CPI-M leader rebuffed Banerjee's call to party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury to join her in the fight against the central government over the demonetisation move.

"She called up Yechury, who said he will talk to his party members," Salim said.

Banerjee tweeted on Sunday that she spoke to several political leaders regarding a joint movement against the central government on the issue.

--IANS

dm-sgh/tsb/dg