Mamata sharpens attack on Modi

In an attack that seemed sharper than her usual political rhetoric, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday stated that if need arises, she would take her ongoing protest against demonetisation to the doors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mamata, who has emerged among the most vocal critics of the Centre’s sudden move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, is “ready to die” for the cause, she said.

“Today, I’m taking a pledge that I may live or die, but I will remove Modi from Indian politics,” Mamata thundered, amid a sea of protestors at Esplanade in downtown Kolkata, even as her followers shouted slogans against Modi and demonetisation.

The chief minister, who demanded an immediate rollback of demonetisation, gave voice to the chants of Modi sarkar, hai hai.

“Modi has established a dictatorship across the country. He has sold out the nation. From what people will eat, what people will wear, to what kind of films people will make… the Centre is interfering in everything,” she said.

Mamata, who demanded the prime minister’s removal from power, said, “I’m not going to quit this movement. This is not my party’s movement, but a people’s movement.”

“The prime minister dreams of a cashless society in India. But, how can you do it at the cost of hawkers, traders and farmers suffering? If people show courage and raise their voice against the government’s policies, he threatens them with the CBI and the ED. But, we’re not giving up yet,” she stated.

While the Left had called for a 12-hour nation-wide protest as part of the same agenda, Mamata refused to support the call and issued a diktat on Friday that government offices will have to maintain 100% attendance and ensure public transport services would run  smoothly.

Mamata’s march and subsequent public address, which was part of the ‘Aakrosh Diwas’ protests by Opposition parties to raise a voice against demonetisation, turned into a major show of strength, more so because the strike called by Left parties turned into a major dampener.