Demonetisation: BSP questions govt's preparedness, TC seeks Prez's intervention, Congress demands probe

New Delhi: The recent surgical strike on black money by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created trouble for the ruling NDA in two ways. One, it has created the problem of money for the common man and second, it has united the Opposition parties. BSP, Trinamool Congress, Congress, NC- all the trying to encircle the Central government. BSP chief questiones government's preparedness: BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday questioned the government's preparedness for the demonetisation of high-value bank notes, accusing it of spending the last ten months on settling the black money of its people. Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the demonetisation of high-denomination currency notes, she said: "The government has said that they spent ten months preparing for this decision. Ten months was a long time to prepare. If they were serious about it, they would have prepared well for all the problems that people are facing today." "What we are witnessing in India today would not have happened had they prepared," she added. Accusing the government of supporting those close to it in settling their ill-gotten wealth, Mayawati said: "In the last ten months, the BJP government has worked to help the party supporters and big businessmen to settle their black money. "If the government had spent ten months preparing for it, then why do they need another 50 days? There is something fishy." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 announced the demonetisation, effective that midnight, of the highest denomination Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. The phased out notes may be exchanged by the public from banks and post offices across the country till December 30 for new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 denomination currency notes. People have suffered anxious moments over the past week lining up at bank branches, post offices and ATM outlets to withdraw cash for their needs. Mamata seeks President's intervention against demonetisation: Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and leaders of three other parties on Wednesday sought President Pranab Mukherjees intervention over the problems faced by people following the "financial calamity" unleashed by the demonetisation move. She also said that at least "20 deaths" have taken place across the country due to the stress caused by the cash crunch. "Since the (demonetisation) decision was announced, 20-30 people have died across the country due to stress," said Banerjee who led a march of the Trinamool, National Conference, Shiv Sena and Aam Aadmi Party to Rashtrapati Bhavan demanding rollback of demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. She said the move was implemented by the Narendra Modi government "without planning" and has led to "anarchy". "The move was implemented without any planning, this has created financial calamity and financial emergency in the country. The country has been pushed towards anarchy. The government should restore normalcy," said Banerjee. She said that Mukherjee gave them a patient hearing and they hoped that he will take "appropriate action". National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was among leaders who took part in the march that started from the Parliament House premises. Congress demands probe into 'selective leakage' of demonetisation: Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma on Wednesday demanded a probe into "selective leakage" of the demonetisation move, which he termed a "Nadirshahi farman" (autocratic order). Congress leader Sharma also sought to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to "who wants to kill him", referring to the Prime Minister's speech in Goa where he had said that with demonetisation resulting in "Looting of their 70 year corrupt earnings, they will destroy me, they can kill me". "There should have been an ordinance for demonetization. But no ordinance was brought. This is a Nadirshahi farman (autocratic order)," Sharma said. "The decision to demonetise high currency notes was leaked to a select few. Secrecy was not maintained on this issue. It was published in a Gujarati newspaper long back and even other newspapers wrote about it," said Sharma. "There should be a probe into the selective leakage of information," he said, asking: "What did the government do to prepare for effective implementation of the policy." He also sought to know from the government which law gave it the right to impose limits on withdrawing money from peoples' own accounts. "I condemn PM's statement in Goa for mocking the people who are standing in queues. He must apologise. Please explain who wants to kill you," said Sharma posing a question to the Prime Minister. "An atmosphere has been created by the government where questioning them has become a parameter to decide one's nationalism," said Sharma. He sought to know from Prime Minister Modi as to from where the "15 thousand crore rupees spent on your mega election campaign come from". "Did you pay for your recent Ghazipur rally through credit card," Sharma said mocking the government for asking people to use plastic money for day to day expenses. Sharma also demanded that Prime Minister Modi must disclose the list of those names, who are holding black money in Swiss banks. "Government has a list of those holding black money in Swiss banks. We demand that Prime Minister must tell who all are there in the list," said Sharma. He said the government should disclose how much money left India between March and September this year and how many people invested in bullion, bought gold or forex during this period. Sharma also said if the government-run State Bank of India (SBI) knew about the demonetisation move in March, why did it not make preparations like recalibrating ATMs and arranging sufficient cash in smaller denominations. He took a dig at the government for using the term "surgical strike" in the context of demonetization and the unplanned consequences of the move, saying, "Bina doctori padhe sab surgeon ban gaye (You became a surgeon without training or education)." Odisha CM seeks Modi's intervention on RBI decision: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and direct the Reserve Bank of India to review its decision not to allow District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) to accept demonetised currency notes. "Withdrawal of the facilities of implementation of a scheme meant for all the banks in the country will adversely affect the farmers in the peak of agricultural operations," said Patnaik in a letter to Modi. He said the RBI's decision will result in a setback of disbursement of crop loans during the current Rabi season leading to resource crunch of farmers. The RBI has taken a decision that no exchange or deposit facility of demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will be allowed at DCCBs. Patnaik said 44 lakh farmer families, who have taken agricultural loans, have been affected due to the ban imposed by the RBI on DCCBs. Besides, paddy procurement will also be hit by the ban, he added. "The DCCBs have been playing pivotal role in my state by dispensing crop loans to the extent of around 65 per cent through their affiliated Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and catering to the requirement of around 44 lakh agricultural families under Kisan Credit Card Scheme," he added. He said that since the DCCBs are licensed by the RBI and constitute part of the banking industry, it was construed that the DCCBs are also authorised to implement the scheme. The whole situation is further complicated by the inadequate availability of new Rs 2,000 and Rs 100 denomination notes, said the Chief Minister.