Demonetisation biggest scam, Black Day on Nov 8: Mamata

Terming demonetisation move the country's "biggest scam", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the Trinamool Congress will observe a 'Black Day' on November 8.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had scrapped Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016. The Trinamool Congress leader also reiterated her demand for a probe into the currency exercise.

"Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the country. There should be an investigation to know why it was done. Our party leaders will observe 'Kala Dibas' (Black Day) in each and every block between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on November 8," Banerjee announced here.

"Come up with short and crisp slogans protesting against demonetisation," she told party leaders.

She claimed her apprehensions about demonetisation had come true and whatever she said within the first few hours of the move was now being reiterated by all the eminent economists.

Accusing the central government of trying to control most of the national media, Banerjee said the Indian media cannot criticise its government the way the media in the US can criticise their President Donald Trump's actions.

"The way the news media in the US are fighting against Trump, the media here cannot do so. Look at Delhi. They are controlling the entire national media barring one or two. No one can criticise them or take action against them.

"If someone does so, CBI, ED officials are sent to intimidate them," she said.

She also took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left for holding her government responsible for the dengue outbreak in Bengal and said the opposition in the state never plays a positive role.

"The BJP and CPI-M should look at the condition of the states governed by them before criticising us.

"There are 640 deaths in Maharashtra and more than 400 deaths in Gujarat due to vector borne diseases. Both the states are run by the BJP. Kerala also registered a high number of such deaths while in Bengal the number is 34," Banerjee said.

"Without helping the dengue victims, they are unnecessarily trying to create a drama on this issue," she complained.

--IANS

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