Winds Of Change, A Change Bit Much?

Political parties and their leaders change colours depending on which side of the table they are sitting, Treasury or Opposition in Parliament. In January 2014, the BJP had termed the Congress move to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005 by March 31 as “anti-poor”. The Congress and other political parties in the Opposition are now getting back at the BJP for scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

Although the BJP has been smart enough by giving the demonetisation move an anti-corruption step, the Opposition finds it –at least for the sake of politics – anarchist, anti-poor, draconian, economic emergency and so on. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Mamata has gone a step forward by giving notice for discussion in Rajya Sabha in the coming Parliament session beginning November 16.

“Modi goverhment took a strong and decisive step on November 8. Earlier the opposition was criticizing the government for not taking step in bringing back black money and now that the government took a step which is an important turn in choking black money, the opposition is pained. I can’t understand the reaction of Mayawati, Mulayam Singh, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal on ban of notes”.

Catching the opposition on the wrong foot, Shah told the media that political parties which are opposed to the move should clarify whether they were “for or against” black money and terror funded by fake notes. “Arvind Kejriwal should make clear whether he supports weeding out black money. ..I know Mamata Banerjee has opposed the move but politicians should not join ranks of black marketeers, drug dealers who are upset”. Giving a sharp blow to Mayawati , Shah said:”This is an economic emergency for the BSP ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections”.

According to him, political parties who are opposed to the move have “exposed themselves to the public”. The timing of the financial surgical strike within the country just months before assembly elections, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, have raised many eyebrows.

Though Shah insisted that the move had nothing to do with the impending assembly elections, he was open to the idea of opposition making it an issue in the elections.

“It is a brave step by the government which will benefit the country in the long run. With fake notes and black money around, the country cannot move forward. The move has rattled those who fund terrorist organisations, naxalites, drug operators, hawala operators and so on.”