Drive to tackle black money big zero: CM Mamata

Kolkata: Tearing into the BJP government over the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s shocking revealation on the outcome of its demonetisation move chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described the Centre's drive to tackle black money a “big big zero.”

She questionned whether the drive was a financial scandal while asserting that the people of the country demand an answer from the Modi government and a detail probe. It was the Trinamul Congress supremo who vehemently opposed the Centre's step within few hours of the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation. She had also hit the street in the city.

In a Facebook post, Ms Banerjee wrote, “Is not the RBI’s revelation this evening on demonetisation pointing to a big scam? I feel it was totally a flop show. 99 per cent of the demonetized currency has come back to the RBI. Only one per cent has not returned. Hundreds of people lost their lives.”

Referring to the people's plight due to demonetisation Ms Banerjee elaborated, “Crores of common people, farmers, workers, those engaged in informal sector, small enterprises and other most vulnerable sections of society suffered massive pain. Due to this “Notebandi”, the nation has lost '3 lakh crore of GDP in the fourth quarter alone.”

She added, “Demonetisation was supposedly done to uncover several lakhs of crores of black money. And now what we have got is a big big zero! What was the hidden agenda?”

The chief minister mentioned, “The people of India demand an answer and a thorough investigation on this. We have great regard and confidence on the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Since the demonetisation issue has been referred to the Constitution Bench, our humble prayer would be that the Hon'ble Supreme Court provides justice to the people of this country.”