Learn from Kerala, allow use of old notes till Dec 31: Yechury

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being detached from ground realities, CPI(M) today said the demonetisation move would "not yield the desired results" of tackling corruption and asked the government to learn from Left-ruled Kerala which has allowed the use of old currency notes till December 31.
The party however treaded cautiously over TMC's proposal of joining hands on the issue, while not ruling out floor coordination in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament even as CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and TMC leaders were present at today's meeting of opposition parties in Parliament, convened by the Congress.
CPI too joined the CPI(M) in castigating the Modi government on the issue, with both questioning the introduction of Rs 2000 currency notes and demanding making public names of bank loan defaulters, those named in Panama papers and those holding parking illegal moneys abroad.

Yechury accused Modi was "living in a different world detached from hard ground realities" while "actual Bharat" is different. He claimed that the step taken by Modi government will not help achieve any of his stated objectives of tackling corruption and curbing terror funding.
He asked the Centre to learn from the LDF government in Kerala in giving relief to people "facing hardships" by allowing them to use old currency notes till December 31 until alternate arrangements are made.
"Common people including farmers, fishermen, truckers, daily wage earners have been hit hard ... The Centre should learn from the CPI(M)-led LDF Kerala government and allow people use old notes, at least at public utilities, until it make alternate arrangements. Other states too should follow suit," Yechury told a press conference here.

The demonetisation move was aimed at "diverting public attention from NDA government's failure" to deliver on promises made by BJP and Modi before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, including that of bringing back blackmoney, he said, adding it was intended to make political gains in the UP polls.

The CPI(M) and CPI alleged that BJP units were "aware in advance" of Modi's November 8 announcement and claimed that around Rs 6 lakh crore were deposited in banks in July- September - highest in any quarter - and demanded that names of such depositors be made public.
On TMC chief Mamata Banerjee calling him up, Yechury said CPI(M) will wait to see what position the government takes in the matter in Parliament on the issue and "who stands where".

Reiterating CPI(M)'s charge against TMC, he said not much progress has been made in CBI's probe into the scams involving leaders of the ruling party in West Bengal, alleging there was "match-fixing between 'Didi Bhai and Modi Bhai'."
"Saradha, Narada scam cases are pending before the CBI. Why is there no progress in it? So, whatever it is, it will become clear on the floor of the House," he said.