Demonetisation a big scam: CM at Christmas Fair inauguration

Calling demonetisation a “big scam” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday warned people against “the possible danger that will affect all of us.”

“In a not too distant future, the ordeal of people will turn from bad to worse and Modi Babu will have to give answer,” she said adding “It is the worst political whimsical decision.”

She said this while inaugurating Christmas Fair in Allen Park at Park Street on Friday evening.

She said the revenue of the state government had dropped by 25 per cent. The GDP of the country was falling fast and all development works had been stalled. “You know how I have run the government ever since I came to power in 2011. I have to spend crore of rupees to clear the loans taken by the erstwhile Left Front government. On top of it, the draconian demonetisation has become our major concern.”

She maintained that both the unorganised and the organised sectors have been badly hit by demonetisation. “Those who used to work in gems and jewellery factory, bidi factory have lost their jobs. Tea garden workers have not received wages for over a month. People who had gone to the cities for work are returning to their villages. This is a countrywide phenomena and no one knows when normalcy will be restored,” she said. She also said that during the festive season people cannot buy gifts for their near and dear ones because of lack of cash. “They talk about cards. But how many people have cards and what about the people in the villages where illiterate do not know how to operate cards.”

Mamata Banerjee said steps would be taken to upgrade the pathway at Victoria memorial Hall. “I have spoken to Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and Commissioner of Police Rajeev Kumar to take up the issue and by January, 2017 work will be completed,” she said. She maintained that the lights that decorate Park Street during Christmas will not be removed and throughout the year the road will be decorated. “It is a heritage road and so it will be lit up properly.”