Mamata Banerjee Targets PM Modi, To Hit Delhi Streets Against Currency Ban

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was threatening other parties raising voices against demonetisation and said she would hit the streets of Delhi to protest against the Centre's move which caused immense hardship to the people. "The Prime Minister is threatening other parties who are raising their voices on demonetisation. PM should be sober. PM should behave like a PM. If necessary, he should convene an all-party meeting on the issue," Ms Banerjee said at a media conference at the state secretariat. "There is no ego fight. There should be a plan of action on demonetisation. My humble submission is that let us work together to solve the issue. The people are suffering," the Trinamool Congress chief said. Claiming that some political parties were unable to raise their voices because the "PM is threatening them", the she said, "But I will not be cowed down. I will continue to protest. He can put me in jail. He (PM Modi) is even threatening his own party." PM Modi at a rally in Agra on Sunday said that political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams were attacking him because they had been hit hard by demonetisation, indirectly referring to Mamata Banerjee. Alleging that there was a 'scam' behind this move, she said, "There must be some hidden agenda. What is the hidden agenda? Let them bring it to the public domain," she said. "I will be in Delhi on November 23, 24 and in Lucknow on November 29. I will also go to Bihar and Punjab," she announced. "This is not a political issue. We are speaking on behalf of commoners. Markets are closed. Small traders are hit," she remarked and said "I have no personal interest. I am doing this for the sake of the people of the country". She said that she was not alone in her fight and added at least three other parties had gone with her to the President. "I will request all (opposition) political parties to be with the people", she said. The chief minister said that the Centre is allowing demonetised notes in various sectors like railways, aviation, petroleum, etc but not for state government sectors. On the PM Modi's attack against her in the Agra rally on Sunday, Ms Banerjee expressed surprise that since both the RBI and SEBI were in his hands what prevented him from getting it (chit fund scam) investigated. "We have never seen a PM who threatens his political opponents," she said adding that NPAs of banks should he investigated as "it is a big scandal". "A big damage has been done to the country in the last 13 days. Recession has already started. GDP is down," she said.