PRJA strikes at demonetization; says the move as a political gimmick

Imphal, Nov 12: Anti-AFSPA crusader, Irom Sharmila’s newly formed political party PRJA today strikes slashing criticism to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s overnight demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency note terming it as another political gimmick for the upcoming assembly election of 5 states including Manipur.
In a press statement signed by its convenor Erendro Leichombam, the political party lambasted the Modi government as the measures which intent to hit those with black money give pains and suffering to the common people as there was no appropriate measures taken up at the ground.
“The BJP has been saddled with the intent of “showing” that they are “doing something” to tackle “Black Money.” Unfortunately, the measure—demonetizing500 and 1000 notes without appropriate measures on the ground and without really hitting those with ‘black money’ in foreign shores—is merely a political side show to dupe the people into believing that the BJP is the crusader of anti-corruption and “anti-Black Money,” the statement said.
“The reality is that this overnight demonetizing of the currency hurts the common people, small business owners, Keithel Emas, Street vendors, Rickshaw, auto-rickshaw drivers, and many daily wage earners who rely exclusively on cash transactions in Manipur. The inconvenience caused is widespread: today we see long lines in every bank, and shops and pharmacies have pulled their shutters down. This will continue for days, if not months. In the rural areas, banks have complained that the new currency notes have not reached their branches thereby creating panic and frustration, and in some cases have proved fatal. It is not a bold decision but one that really does not suit the purpose it says it will.  It proves BJP’s anti-people policy to score political points, which has been implemented inefficiently and without proper preparations.
The demonetization will leave big players untouched as their “Black Money” would be stashed away as immovable assets, Gold, or in Swiss Banks, or in foreign currencies—Dollars, Yens, Pound Sterlings etc. Modi’s “Masterstroke” hurts the common people the most and in Manipur where a majority of lower middle class does not have a bank account and where 95% of business houses/shops and other services do not accept cashless payments, it is clear that BJP treats the hardship that has befallen on the”micham praja” as mere “collateral damage.” In its desperation to hit a “sixer in the final over,” the BJP government has exposed itself as the party of big corporate houses. BJP has failed to address any of the illegal activities and ecosystem that breeds “Black Money” and corruption in the first place.
PRJA believes that demonetizing currencies in such a manner is totally anti-people. We find the BJP Government’s act as totally irresponsible since they did not consider the people’s tremendous hardship before they played politics with the economy’s most important medium of exchange—the currency. BJP has literally choked the economy by leaving business activities in a stand still condition. PRJA is committed to fighting against corruption but this act of demonetization, which has come about without any support mechanisms for the common people, without any effective mechanism to aid the transition, has fed only frustration, inconvenience, and hardships in the lives of the common man. It says that BJP as a party will play all it takes to make a point while neglecting the needs of the meecham praja.
It further added that BJP came to power promising that “Black Money” will be brought back to India from abroad to enable each citizen to receive 15 Lakhs rupees in their respective bank accounts. The PM Mr. Narendra Modi could not deliver on these promises in the last two and half years.