Lucknow: They are two big names in Indian politics and two bitter rivals. But the Modi government’s decision to scrap old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has forced Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to join cause.
Both leaders, who would face off in a few months when Uttar Pradesh holds assembly elections, which are seen as a semifinals for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, are speaking in almost one voice to denounce the Centre’s demonetisation move. Both say the decision is nothing less than an “undeclared emergency”.
As people queued up outside banks and post offices to exchange old currency notes on Thursday, BSP chief Mayawati, followed a little later by Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, hit out at the BJP-led Centre for cancelling the legal tender of the high denomination currency notes.
Mayawati said the Prime Minister “is probably trying to derive sadistic pleasure by overlooking the interests of Dalits, farmers and poor people by declaring the economic emergency”. Mulayam echoed her sentiments, saying, “During emergency, leaders and people were sent to jail… This time around, it’s an undeclared emergency, in which, instead of sending people to jail, they have been virtually kept under house arrest”.
While Mulayam demanded a time-bound rollback of the decision, Mayawati was more scathing in her criticism, accusing the BJP of having “funded its coffers for the next 100 years before deciding to declare a ban on existing high currency notes”.
Sources say electioneering of the two major political players in Uttar Pradesh will be undoubtedly hit hard by the move.
A senior BSP leader says demonetisation will a major flashpoint in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. Only time will tell if SP and BSP join forces on the floor of the House.
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