Mamata Banerjee criticises PM over demonitisation remarks

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statement that poor are enjoying a sound sleep after demonitisation, saying it is an "insult" to the common people.

"The PM in his speech said that the poor are sleeping peacefully. This is an insult to commoners and in bad taste," the TMC supremo said in a tweet after Modi's statement in Ghazipur.

"My humble suggestion is not to hit the common people like this," she said.

Banerjee said while the masses have been victimised and crushed under the weight of demonetisation, many economists are now predicting the onset of recession.

"This will be a killer for the common people. Already a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore of GDP has been lost by the economy in only six days," she said in a statement.

Speaking at BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' in Ghazipur today, Modi said, "After demonetisation, the poor are enjoying a sound sleep while the rich are running from pillar to post to buy sleeping pills."

Banerjee, who is in the forefront of the opposition's attack against the Modi government on demonitisation issue, had said she was not averse to working with arch-rival CPI(M) and other opposition parties like Congress, SP, BSP to fight against the "anti-people" government which has imposed an "undeclared emergency".

She also spoke to President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday over the Centre's demonetisation move and said representatives of political parties will meet him on this issue.