Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that he suspected a conspiracy was afoot to lead India into economic bondage, in the wake of the demonetisation that has been carried out by the federal Bharatiya Janata Party government.
Other leaders in the state assembly, with the exception of the lone BJP MLA, O. Rajagopal, echoed the chief minister’s opinion. The assembly session was specially convened to discuss the distress being faced by cooperative banks in the state in the wake of the demonetisation.
Cooperative banks have not been allowed to exchange old notes for new, and the Communist Party of India Marxist-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala is accusing the BJP of aiming to “destroy” the cooperative sector.
Pinarayi said the demonetisation had not hurt the upper crust of society, but the economy of the nation was adversely affected. The common man was being put through extreme distress owing to the demonetising Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, he said.
He reminded the House that the Supreme Court of India had pointed out the likelihood of riots breaking out in the country in the context of the demonetisation move, and accused the federal government of keeping the list of black money hoarders under its pillow and feigning ignorance.
The lone BJP MLA in the state, O. Rajagopal said the federal government was not against the cooperative sector, and that the demonetisation exercise was aimed at “cleansing the economy”. He said it was “bizarre” to say that the federal government had implemented demonetisation to destroy Kerala’s cooperative sector.
CPM veteran V.S. Achuthanandan accused the federal government of having attempted to create a warlike situation and of resorting to the demonetisation drive when that attempt failed.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of implementing economic fascism in the country, and that he was taking decisions by holding his own cabinet colleagues hostage.
Congress leader and former chief minister Oommen Chandy described the demonetisation as a “criminal act” against the common people, and an act that “does not deserve mercy”.
