Tripura CM dubs demonetisation a 'political gimmick'

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday termed demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency notes as a political gimmick.

"Sudden scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency notes is just a political gimmick and an impractical move by the Central government," Sarkar told reporters here.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while announcing the scrapping of these currency notes, specified four issues -- curbing black money, stopping circulation of fake currencies, preventing transaction of money by the terrorists and curbing corruption.

"None of the issues would be resolved through this step," he stressed.

Sarkar, a Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member, said the billionaires and black money holders do not keep money in their homes but in foreign banks.

"Black money in enormous quantities are deposited in foreign banks by the people who illegally earn it. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) led by Modi in their pre-poll economic promises had assured the countrymen that they would bring back the black money in the country within 100 days.

"Now, they have governed the country for more than 900 days, but nothing has been done."

He said that the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes can also be faked.

The Tripura Chief Minister said that the move is aimed at diverting the attention of people from genuine problems of the country being faced by the people.

He said that the banking services are also not available everywhere in the country and to everybody in India.

"Due to sudden scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency notes, people have fallen in serious distress. These sufferings of the people could have been avoided if the Central government had taken advance steps in this regard," Sarkar added.

--IANS

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