Modi not fit to be PM, says Mamata; seeks unity against demonetisation

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation issue, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called upon opposition parties to shun politics and join hands against the Centre.

Addressing the West Bengal Assembly, she said Modi was "not qualified" to be the Prime Minister and demanded a judicial probe into financial transactions by the BJP prior to the November 8 decision of the Central government to spike Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

"Demonetisation decision has been taken without planning. Common people are facing huge problems. Undeclared financial emergency has been imposed on the country.

"In 21 days they have modified their decision 21 times. Can you believe it? They have no idea what to do. The Centre is treating people like guinea pigs," said Banerjee while participating in a discussion in demonetisation in the assembly.

Dubbing demonetisation as a "big scandal", "big scam" and "big crime", she also flayed Modi over the mobile payments entity Paytm's advertisement that featured him.

"The Prime Minister is busy doing advertisement for PayTM. Have you ever seen a Prime Minister endorse private companies?

"The Prime Minister talks of cashless banking without even creating the infrastructure. He is trying to forcefully enforce cashless economy.

"Has Modi bothered to see the darkness beneath the lamp? Modi does not have the qualification to be the Prime Minister," she said.

Claiming that the "BJP bought land in several states in September and October right before the demonetisation" was announced, Banerjee demanded a judicial probe into those financial transactions.

Elaborating the sufferings of the common people including daily wagers and farmers, she called upon the opposition parties to join the fight against the Centre.

"If the situation is not addressed, there will be food crisis. We are against black money and black marketing, but we can't support the process adopted by the Centre.

"This is not the time for politics. We must fight unitedly in this time of crisis," said Banerjee who has held public rallies in several states against demonetisation and also petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee demanding a rollback of the move.

--IANS

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