Mamata, leaders of Opposition parties to meet President over demonetization woes

On a day Opposition parties said they will raise the demonetization in the winter session of parliament beginning on Wednesday, Bengal chief minister said Mamata Banerjee would meet President Pranab Mukherjee next week, along with representatives from Opposition political parties.

Banerjee gave a call for a “joint movement” by Opposition parties against the Centre to give people some respite from the ongoing “financial anarchy” that has been caused due to the decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. She spoke to the President on Sunday and briefed him about the present situation caused due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “hasty and arbitrary” decision to demonetise the notes without any preparation.

She later tweeted: “The Hon President was kind enough to take my call now. I briefed him about how common people are suffering because of demonetization. I thank him for agreeing to meet reps of political parties on Nov 16 or 17 where we will brief him in detail on the grim situation.”

This comes a day after she requested the Opposition parties, including CPI(M), to build up a joint movement against the Modi government’s decision of demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes which led to trouble for common people.

On Sunday, she spoke to senior leaders including Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri, and requested them to accompany her to meet the President. It is learnt that Yechuri told her that he would give his reply after speaking to local leaders in Bengal.

In another tweet Banerjee stated: “This is not an ego battle. I humbly appeal again to the Govt at the Centre. Save the common people from more suffering,and the country from financial catastrophe, by withdrawing this hasty decision. 1st pl put a proper action plan in place.Breathing space for people. Today I spoke with several political leaders regarding a joint movement and to meet Rashtrapati Ji together. Let us all fight this together to give relief to common citizens, the poor and stop this financial anarchy.”

Banerjee will leave for Delhi on Tuesday and will talk to leaders of some Opposition parties over the issue.