BJP knew of demonetizing, deposited huge amounts in banks: CPM; Sena warns Modi of people’s anger

However, the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied that it had any prior knowledge about the demonetisation.

“Just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on November 8, an amount of one crore rupees was deposited in a savings bank account that belongs to West Bengal wing of the BJP. It clearly shows it was aware of the impending ban on higher denomination notes,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member and state Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra told reporters.

“In a span of six days, approximately three crore rupees was deposited in the same account, No.554510034. I want to ask the BJP leadership whether it is normal for their party to receive such high amount in cash on a weekly basis,” Mishra claimed.

Mishra also made a veiled allegation that the BJP central leadership had deposited a huge amount of money in bank accounts before the demonetisation, so that their party does not face a fund crisis before the impending elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

“It is possible that BJP leaders were well aware of this ban and that is why, deposited huge amount in banks across the nation to make their black money white,” Mishra said.

Soon after Mishra’s media meet, the BJP state leadership pooh-poohed the allegation, saying such transactions were completely legitimate and done regularly to take care of the expenses needed to run a political party.

“We are obliged to provide the details of our source of fund to the Election Commission and the Income Tax Department whenever it is needed. The BJP does not indulge in unethical transactions. We believe in the banking system of the country,” party’s state Vice President Jay Prakash Majumdar said.

“Unlike some other parties, who can’t reveal their source of funds, we generally carry out transactions through cheques. For cash transactions of such amounts in banks, one has to produce the PAN details. The mention of proper PAN and other account-related details during the transaction proves it is a legitimate transaction,” said Majumdar.

“I categorically state we had no inkling about the ban on some currency notes. So many transactions had taken place throughout the country till 8 p.m. on that day. Did all of them know about the impending announcement? This is rubbish,” he added.

While talking about state’s ruling party Trinamool Congress’ vehement protest against the currency ban, Mishra said it is merely an eyewash and accused Trinamool of “having an understanding” with the BJP.

“The money of Sarada (ponzi) scam reached Jamaat-e-Islami terrorists in Bangladesh. This shows our state government’s stand on black money,” Mishra said.
Though the Centre has claimed that the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were known only to a handful of people, the story was broken by a Kanpur-based Hindi journalist almost a fortnight before the dramatic late evening announcement by the Prime Minister.

Brajesh Dubey of the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran is gleefully accepting congratulatory telephone calls and envious looks from his peers for his story of October 27 that also confidently reported that Rs 2,000 notes would be issued as a replacement.

Talking over the phone, Dubey, who is on the business beat for the Hindi daily, did not reveal his source for the story citing the “ethics of journalism”, but said it came from “informed and long-standing sources”.

It was done routinely, he said and did not draw attention even from colleagues, forget readers, until the November 8 “surgical strike” on black money — an event that was so “top secret” that ministers were reportedly “quarantined” after the cabinet meeting where they were informed of the decision.

Dubey is happy now that the story has not only been confirmed by subsequent developments but also that his byline has been noticed by the fraternity everywhere.

“It is a normal yet a good feeling to have filed a story which subsequently was confirmed by the announcement of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Sources in the newspaper, however, contended that Dubey got a whiff of the coming event on the sidelines of the board meeting of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) — the first under new Governor Urjit Patel — which was held on October 20 in Kanpur.

Opposition parties have been accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of having leaked news of the impending demonetisation to those close to it.
Meanwhile, in a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ally and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray dubbed the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 “disastrous” and warned it could backfire on the government.

“We are not opposed to eradicating black money from the economy. We strongly object to the manner in which it has been done without taking people into confidence and giving adequate time to prepare for it,” Thackeray said.

He wondered the need to bring new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes after cancelling the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and said it was wrong to suddenly demonetize without making adequate advance arrangements.

Thackeray dared Modi to blow up his 56-inch chest to 5,600 inches and carry out a “surgical strike” on Swiss banks to bring back Indian wealth stashed there.

He sought an immediate end to the pain experienced by the masses on account of demonetization and stringent action on those who have hoarded undeclared money.

The Sena chief told media persons that the common people have been undergoing huge suffering, waiting for hours in long queues to exchange their old currency notes and one man died in a queue in Mumbai on Friday.

“Who is responsible for his death? Will the people who have taken this decision (of demonetization) accept responsibility for his death?”

Drawing parallels, he said that only recently, during Diwali, people had worshiped Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) but now she has “disappeared”.

“Modi spoke of his ‘mann ki baat’ and ‘dhan (wealth) ki baat’, but did not consider the plight of the ‘jan’ (masses). They are undergoing misery outside banks and ATMs. Marriages are getting affected, people are facing problems in getting health care,” Thackeray said.

He lauded Modi for the “surgical strike” (against Pakistan) but warned him not to forget that the agonized people could carry out their own “surgical strike” and teach the Bharatiya Janata Party a lesson in the next elections.

“After this what? Will the government eye people’s bank lockers next? Will it install security cameras in everyone’s homes? People must now put up Modi’s photos as he is the only good citizen. They should also present Modi’s picture instead of Aadhar Cards in banks,” added Thackeray.

He referred to the demonetization of large denomination done by then Prime Minister Morarji Desai, and asked: “You know what happened to him?”

“Don’t forget, these very same people who are suffering now had elected you. Beware of their surgical strike during the elections,” Thackeray warned.

The Shiv Sena chief sarcastically added that after plunging the nation into chaos and bringing masses on the roads, Modi left on a foreign tour (Japan). (IANS)