Modi blames ‘discarded’ oppn for Parliament logjam; Maya, Mamata hit back

New Delhi/Kolkata, December 11

As Parliament remained deadlocked over demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused opposition parties "discarded" by people of trying to "suppress" the truth, drawing angry retorts from BSP supremo Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"Parliament has not been allowed to function for 20 days.

We are ready for a debate (on demonetisation) but we are not being allowed to present our view point by those very parties that have been discarded by the electorate," Modi said.

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Modi was addressing BJP's Parivartan Yatra through mobile phone from Lucknow after the IAF chopper carrying him failed to land in Bahraich due to poor visibility.

"They (opposition) come to the Well of the House...throw paper at the Speaker. We want to put forth the government's view point...but they are not allowing us to do so," he said.

On demonetisation, he said, "You must have seen that the government is after people who have stashed black money. The government is committed to empowering the poor. The people are also taking pain to ensure the country moves on the path of development."

Attacking Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, Modi said both the parties are talking in the "same tone". He said both the parties are facing "hardship" due to note ban.

Who said what

“They (opposition) come to the Well of the House...throw paper at the Speaker. We want to put forth the government's viewpoint...but they are not allowing us to do so.” — Prime Minister Narendra Modi

"By blaming opposition parties, the PM is running away from government's responsibility...But his remarks are totally wrong. ‘Yeh ulta chor kotwal to dantey jaisa hai’.”— BSP supremo Mayawati

"The most-corrupt people are talking about removing corruption. Demonetisation (has been) done only to help Modi babu and his close associates.” — West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Within hours of Modi slamming the opposition, BSP supremo Mayawati hit back at the Prime Minister, saying it was a classic case of pot calling kettle black.

"By blaming opposition parties, the Prime Minister is running away from government's responsibility and answerability...But his remarks are totally wrong. 'yeh ulta chor kotwal to dantey jaisa hai' (it is like pot calling kettle black)," she said in a press release in Lucknow.

The former Uttar Pradesh CM said Modi is running away from accountability and responsibility.

"He is not ready to listen to the problems of people inside and outside Parliament. Therefore, things are getting complex," she said.

Mayawati said the "emotional blackmail" the Prime Minister was indulging in would not help the BJP and the government.

"Note ban has become a problem for 90 per cent of honest people," she said.

Mayawati said Modi was harping on the same tune and his speech at BJP's Parivartan Yatra in Bahraich was no different.

Targeting the Modi government, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said demonetisation has meant complete demolition of Indian economy due to “arrogant and destructive” attitude of the Centre.

"Demonetisation (has been) done only to help Modi babu and his close associates," Banerjee said in retaliation for the Prime Minister's attack on opposition parties over corruption and disruption of Parliament due to protests against demonetisation.

"The most corrupt people are talking about removing corruption," she said, joining issue with Modi over his attack on the opposition parties earlier in the day.

"Demonetisation has meant complete demolition of the Indian economy," Banerjee said in a series of tweets, continuing her unrelenting attack against the Modi government over invalidation of Rs 1,000 and old Rs 500 notes.

Earlier, Modi said only BJP could fulfil aspirations of the people of Uttar Pradesh and appealed to the electorate in the Awadh region to vote for the party in the coming Assembly polls in the state.

"For Uttar Pradesh to progress, poverty and goonda raj need to be removed," he said.

"Police are also helping those who are indulging in hooliganism. We have to crush those patronising 'goondagardi' (hooliganism). BJP will fulfil aspirations of the people of the state," he said.

Asking people to learn to use mobile banking, Modi said, "I am addressing you through mobile. You can turn your mobile into your bank. You have to learn it slowly."

Modi was national general secretary of BJP when he visited Bahraich in 2001 for the first time, and later in November 2013 for the second time.

This was BJP's 5th Parivartan Yatra to be addressed by the Prime Minister in the state.

Modi has earlier addressed four parivartan rallies at Ghazipur, Agra, Kushinagar and Moradabad. His next rally is scheduled to be held in Kanpur on December 19.

State BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya said, "The Prime Minister Narendra will try to come again to Bahraich when his schedule and weather allow." — PTI