Modi’s tears won’t wipe out tears of common man: CPI

New Delhi:The CPI today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation move, saying his tears cannot wipe the tears of common man and if he was “sincere” then he should express regret over demonetisation move and set things right by allowing people to use Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes till year-end.

The Left party also sought to suggest that the Prime Minister was “detached” from ground realties, saying Modi’s comment that poor people are happy with the demonetisation move was “far from the truth” and added insult to their injury.

“Instead of accepting the fact that demonetisation was introduced without proper arrangements and failed to foresee the consequence, the Prime Minister is resorting to dramatic defence. Tears in Modi’s eyes cannot wipe out the tears of crores of people in the country,” CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said in a statement.

If the Prime Minister is sincere, he should express regrets to the nation and set right the things by allowing the people to use old currency notes till December 31, 2016 for all public utilities, he added.

Referring to reports that “huge and abnormal” cash deposits were made in national banks during the last quarter (July-September), the former Lok Sabha MP said this leads to doubts whether they were aware of November 8 demonetisation announcement.

“Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi and Panama accused are moving freely while the common people are being punished. Modi’s comment that poor people in the country are happy with this decision is far from the truth. It is adding insult to injury.

Life has become miserable to a large number of people,” he said.

Reddy said accusing opposition parties for the people’s anger will not yield results and they need a reply on why the Prime Minister “could not” bring back black money as promised ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

The Left leader also sought an explanation from Modi that why Rs 2,000 currency notes were issued which, he said, will again help amassing black money.

Blending emotion with aggression, Modi had on November 13 mounted a counteroffensive against the opposition over demonetisation of high-value currency notes, promising more anti-graft measures in future even if he was burned alive.