The party also accused BJP of selectively leaking the news of demonetisation of high value currency notes to big industrialists like Adani and Ambani, days before the step was actually taken.
When quizzed about the reasons behind NCP’s non-participation in the political parties’ march led by Mamata Banerjee against demonetisation, he told The Sunday Guardian, “There was no question of participating in the Parliamentary march. It was organised to seek a roll-back of the demonetisation move. We don’t demand that. Neither us, nor the Congress participated in that march. But we are against the way it has been implemented. And we will protest against it for the trouble it has been causing to the commoner.”
The NCP youth wing organised protests in parts of Maharashtra against the “troubles caused due to demonetisation”. Even opposition leader Dhananjay Munde, who has been touring rural Maharashtra to campaign for local self government elections, targeted the BJP.
“Our party’s position is very clear on the issue. Honourable Sharad Pawarji has already welcomed the decision. We are with the government for any move to weed out corruption, black money and terror. So, how can we oppose demonetisation of higher value currency notes? But we had really expected that the BJP would make some arrangements and preparations before announcing this decision. We cannot ignore the hardships faced by the common man due to this move,” Malik said.
“This government had come to power on the promise of acchhe din, but today the common man is being left to die in the queue to get his own money exchanged. In the name of black money, the common man has been brought on the streets by this government. On the one hand, the government is waiving off loans of the rich industrialists; on the other hand, the farmers are tired seeking a waiver. Suicides haven’t gone down, inflation has gone up. People should vote BJP and Shiv Sena out of power in the coming nagar panchayat elections to teach them a lesson,” Dhananjay Munde said during one of his rallies at Osmanabad.
‘INCLUDE DISTRICT BANKS’
The NCP has now intensified its demand to allow district banks and co-operative societies to exchange high value currency notes. The demand has already been rejected by the Finance Ministry. “In the rural areas, 52% banking transactions take place through the district banks and co-operative societies. More than 90-95% farmers hold their accounts in these district banks. By disbelieving these institutions, the government is disbelieving the farmers,” Malik said.
The BJP leadership has alleged that the NCP controls the board members of many of these co-operative societies and district banks, and thus wants the government to include them. Responding to the allegation, Malik said, “Such talks coming from a party which has shown utter insensitivity towards the people, is no surprise. They say, people die in the lines of rationed food too. What else can you expect from them?”
“The district banks are people’s banks. People believe in the NCP, that is why they elect us there. If this decision of demonetisation is for the patriots, make Adani and Ambani, too, stand in these long queues,” he said.
He said that the inclusion of district banks and co-operative societies across the country will ease the pressure on banking and will provide relief to people. “If you don’t trust these banks, close down your secretariat and ask your babus to go and monitor each and every bank on the field. Let your IAS and IPS officers oversee the functioning of these banks. But don’t decline the proposal. It will ease the woes of everyone,” he said.