Demonetisation: Modi's note ban decision has turned people 'fakir', says Mayawati

LUCKNOW: In a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'fakir' remark, BSP supremo Mayawati today said his note ban decision has turned a majority of the country's people into pauper but not him, and it will lead to BJP's defeat in Uttar Pradesh. "He (Modi) has not yet become a 'fakir', but has definitely turned 90 per cent of the country's population into 'fakir'. "His demonetization decision has made the common people bankrupt," she said addressing workers to mark the 61st death anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at Ambedkar Saamajik Parivartan Sthal, a memorial built during her regime as a tribute to the Dalit icon. Addressing BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' rally in Moradabad on Saturday where he had attacked Mayawati and others for opposing demonetization, Modi had said, "What can my opponents do to me? I am a fakir (hermit/pauper)... jhola ley kar chaley jayenge (I will exit with my little belongings)." Taking potshots at the prime minister, Mayawati had reacted within hours, saying Modi is "bahut bade maldar" (very wealthy) and wondered how a "well-wisher of the affluent" can be a hermit. The BSP supremo today said that the note ban decision has caused so much hardship to the people that they will not only vote against BJP, but ensure that the party is relegated to the fourth spot in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. "It is a travesty that people are being made to run from pillar to post to withdraw their own money," she said, accusing Modi of adopting a "dictatorial attitude". Asserting that BSP was not against black money and corruption, Mayawati said her objection was to lack of proper planning before demonetisation. Cautioning people against designs of BJP and RSS, Mayawati alleged that the saffron party together with RSS was trying to divide society on lines of Hindutva as they did not have faith in the secular Constitution framed by Ambedkar.