On note ban anniversary, Mamata Banerjee called demonetisation a big scam.
On the first anniversary of notes ban today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described demonetisation as "DeMoDisaster", a "Big Scam" and marked it as a 'Black Day' in the history of India.
The Trinamool Congress had earlier announced that it would observe November 8 as 'Black Day' to protest against demonetisation across West Bengal. As a sign of protest, she also changed her profile picture on Twitter 'black'.
"I have turned my Twitter DP black #DeMoDisaster. Let us raise our voices #Nov8BlackDay," the Trinamool Congress supremo wrote on her Twitter handle after turning her display picture black this morning.
Ms Banerjee also retweeted her yesterday's post on Facebook alleging that the note ban was a "big scam" which was announced to help vested interests convert black money into white money.
"Demonetisation is a big scam. I repeat, demonetisation is a big scam. If a thorough investigation is conducted, this will be proved," her Facebook post read. Through her post, she reminded that people had no access to their own money in banks, even in emergency and wrote that "the memories of untold sufferings and pain thrust upon the common people still haunt our minds."
"Demonetisation was not to combat black money. It was only to convert black money into white money for vested interests of the political party in power (sic)," she alleged.
Read her full Facebook post here:
The Left parties and the state Congress will also organise rallies today. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will participate in a candle-light vigil in Gujarat to protest against the 'Black Day', while the government is celebrating the first anniversary of the notes ban as "anti-black money day".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted a seven-minute film early on Wednesday morning that he said encapsulates "the benefits of demonetisation," also stating that "125 crore Indians fought a decisive battle and WON."
In an effort to combat corruption and black money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suddenly banned high value notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 a year ago today. The notes ban, which yanked nearly 86 per cent of the currency in circulation at the time, has been acknowledged by experts as one of the main reasons for the economic lull, which saw growth plunge to a three-year low of 5.7 per cent in the last quarter.