Demonetisation turned people into fakir: Mamata

"Realising the people's difficulties, Venezuala withdrew the decision on demonetisation, but the Modi government doesn't listen to anyone. It is a deaf and dumb government," she told a public meeting here.

"The common people understand the problem, but the Prime Minister does not. We don't know when he will realise.

By that time the country will be in the grip of a femine," she added.

"The people can't withdraw their own money. We don't know whether that is safe", Banerjee said.

Slamming the Centre for promoting a digital economy, the TMC chief said, "they are saying buy this app, buy this mobile. Don't listen to them. Else you will become fakir".

She further hit out at Modi for dubbing himself a "fakir" and said that the Prime Minister used to describe himself as a "chaiwala" the before the Lok Sabha elections and claimed that now he has turned into a crorepati.

"What is the definition of fakir," Banerjee asked.

"Money for the 100 days work should not be paid through Paytm in lieu of commission. From ATM to Paytm. Govt must stop taking commission. Centre cannot dictate people where to keep their money," she said.

In an apparent reference to BJP, the chief minister alleged, "they are trying to divide the people in the name of religion when they cannot provide food to them. This will not be tolerated".

She also instructed the state administration to deal with such attempts firmly.

"As long as I am alive, I'll continue to work for the people. Political parties exist because of the people.

Without them we are nothing," Banerjee said.

She said a water supply project "Jal Tirtha" worth Rs 1,100 crore had been taken up to irrigate 32,000 hectares of farmland in the district.

"We started a university in Bankura. We have launched health centres, polytechnic colleges and Karma Tirthas here," she added.