New Delhi: Even as the Modi government is facing flak over its decision to demonetise higher currency notes, with the Opposition parties also questioning the timing of the decision as Assembly elections in key states are around the corner, a top BJP leader on Thursday claimed that the government could go for more such measures against black money.
While asserting that “more such surgical strikes” will take place as the Modi government is committed to act against black money and corruption, this leader also admitted that the issue would be one of the main poll pl-anks of the saffron party.
Speculation are rife that this government decision could impact the BJP’s poll prospects as small traders and businessmen, which are considered its core votebank, are miffed. But the BJP leader maintained that the decision will actually boost its prospects ahead of crucial elections, including in UP.
BSP chief Mayawati termed the action imposition of “undeclared economic emergency”. “It (the decision) is not in the interest of the people, it is in self-interest,” she said.
Echoing her sentiments, arch rival and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said the “sudden ban” showed the NDA government did not keep the plight of people in mind and took the decision with an eye on UP polls.
The Trinamool Congr-ess, meanwhile, gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to suspend business on the opening day of Winter Session of Parliament on November 16 to discuss the demonetisation of '1,000 and '500 currency notes, saying it was inconveniencing the poor.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday claimed that the BJP and its “friends” were informed about the demonetisation of high value currency notes “a week before”, especially keeping the upcoming UP polls in mind,
Mr Kejriwal also questioned the logic behind the introduction of Rs 2,000 notes, saying it will fan corruption and the black money economy instead of containing it and that demonetisation has hit the common men hard.
In a series of tweets, Mr Kejriwal also took pot shots at an advertisement of Mobile payments firm ‘Paytm’ that featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image, saying the company was the biggest beneficiary of the move.
