Communal harmony day: TMC, Left go after PM over note ban

Kolkata: Demonetisation issue dominated the communal harmony day which both ruling Trinamul Congress and opposition CPI(M) observe on December 6 every year. Both CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Trinamul Congress leader and state urban development minister Firhad Hakim while addressing separate rallies targeted Narendra Modi government for imposing an “undeclared financial Emergency” in the country.

“Rupees 15.3 lakh crore was in circulation in Rs 500 and 1000 currency notes. Till latest reports, an amount of Rs 12.6 lakh crore has been deposited in bank. If the remaining Rs 2.7 lakh crore is deposited in the bank by December 30, which is the deadline, then it means that the Prime Minister helped people convert their black money into white. As a result, majority of common people have been harassed and only the rich have been helped in this entire exercise,” Mr Yechury said at a public meeting today at Shahid Minar Ground which was organised to mark the demolition of Babari Masjid, 24 years ago.

“The Centre has imposed an undeclared financial emergency in the country and people are scared with the prevailing situation. The government should allow the circulation of old currency notes till adequate new currency notes are available in market,” he added.

Meanwhile, addressing a separate rally at Mayo Road-Dufferin Road crossing, state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong pitch for plastic economy was actually his effort to privatise the economy of the country. The ruling party was observing National Integration Day on Tuesday. “Economy of the country will be in the hands of the multinationals. Farmers will be compelled to surrender their own rights of ploughing their own land to some multinational companies. This is the real intention of Prime Minister,” Mr Hakim said.

He also held the Prime Minister’s demonetisation drive responsible for the death of more than 80 people who died across the country since the announcement of note ban. “Modiji has become a tyrant like Hirak Raja. (Hirak Raja is a character from Satyajit Ray’s film “Hirak Rajar Deshe” who was a tyrant).” he added.

Every year on the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition, the ruling TMC, CPI(M) and other Left parties observe communal harmony day. Needless to say that on this occasion all these secular parties indulged in aggressive BJP bashing. The BJP bashing continued this year too but for different reason.

Meanwhile, state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee slammed the Centre for indulging in divisive politics and appealed to all people to take the streets in protest. “I appeal to all to take the streets for protesting against the Centre which is trying to divide people in the name of religion,” he said.