Ready to work with CPI(M) to fight against corrupt Centre: Mamata

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged all the Opposition parties, even the CPI(M) to put up a united fight against the corrupt government.

“Though I have ideological difference with CPI(M) but all the Opposition parties should put up a united fight against some dictators. The Centre is scared of the questions which may be raised in Parliament over the surgical strike. There are allegations that the decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes was taken to benefit some people. BJP will have to answer all these questions and they are not prepared to face it.

Within half an hour after Mamata Banerjee had invited all political parties including the CPI(M) to come together to protest against the hasty, dangerous and draconian decision of Narendra Modi government, CPI(M) MP Mohammad Selim said that the party would launch a movement to unmask the Centre.

“We have every right to know whose interest the government is trying to serve. The people will not accept any decision which has been given to them by force,” he said.

Selim said the way Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were abolished has left series of questions which the Centre needs to answer. “Is he really trying to weed corruption and black money or trying to shield some lobby needs to be probed”, he said. 

He further said a news was being circulated that the ban was imposed to help a business group who are close to BJP.” All these questions need to be addressed by the Centre to spell the doubts,” he said adding: “There is reason to doubt as the Prime Minister has failed to bring black money kept in the banks in foreign countries which he had promised to bring.”

Surya Kanta Misra, state secretary of the party said all the Branches and local committees have been asked to organise rallies to highlight BJP’s corruption and nepotism.

On Thursday Ganashakti, CPI(M)’s mouthpiece alleged that the state unit of BJP had deposited Rs 1 crore to the Central Avenue branch of Indian Bank shortly before the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on Tuesday. 

The party mouthpiece alleged that the money was deposited in two instalments of Rs 40 lakh and Rs 60 lakh. The money was deposited by BJP leader OP Jha. CPI(M) alleged that in the past one week the party had deposited Rs 3 crore in the account bearing number 554*****4. However, the party leaders used PAN card number to deposit the money.

Echoing Selim’s voice, Misra said the party over and over again had urged the Centre to publish a list of defaulters who took loans worth crores of rupees from banks and did not repay. 

“Our party secretary Sitaram Yechury had also asked the Centre to give details of those whose money are kept in banks in foreign countries have been brought”, he said adding: “But the government did not disclose their names. This has raised doubts in the minds of people.”