In whose interest is Mamata wants continuation of old notes: BJP

The BJP on Saturday demanded that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spell out in whose interest she was repeatedly pressing for the circulation of the high-value currency notes banned by the Narendra Modi government recently.

"In whose interest is she asking for more time for the old notes? Why? Whose money has got stuck? We will be obliged if the honourable Chief Minister discloses this information," BJP state Vice President Jay Prakash Majumdar told mediapersons here.

Majumdar's attack came hours after Banerjee, who has been in the forefront of the protests against the Modi government's initiative, marched to the RBI office in Kolkata, summoned its officials and sought to know the currency position with them.

She also repeated her demand that the central government allow the Rs 500 denomination notes to be in circulation, and let the Rs 1,000 denomination currency notes remain valid for a month.

He asked: "Why is Banerjee inciting the masses? And why is she demanding and now almost begging, that at least for a few days the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes be kept in circulation?"

Majumdar also took a dig at Banerjee repeatedly raising the issue of the hardships suffered by the common man, especially in the rural areas due to the demonetisation.

"She is talking of the poor people, but rushing to Burrabazar (one of Asia's largest wholesale markets). Poor people from rural Bengal do not do business there," he said.

--IANS

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