Demonetisation to cast shadow on Winter Session, says Opposition

Nagpur: Opposition parties in Maharashtra are gearing up to attack the state government in the Winter Session of the legislature, which begins Monday over the “`20,000-crore losses” incurred by the rural economy due to the demonetisation move. Also, farmers’ issues, Maratha reservation and malnutrition are some of the key factors that the Opposition parties feel concerned about. The Opposition parties also boycotted the customary tea party by the government and said that they would raise questions in the House.

However, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that his government was fully prepared to face the questions and in fact would highlight the works done in two years in the Assembly.

The opposition parties Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Peasants and Workers Party and Samajwadi Party, held a meeting Sunday morning in which they decided to boycott the CM’s tea party. They also designed a strategy on various issues to be raised in the House. Criticising demonetisation, leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil demanded in a press conference that why the government should not be booked under 302 for the deaths of people standing in queues. “Over 70 people have died due to demonetisation. Why should the government not be booked under section 302? On the one hand, it has waived off Rs 7,000 crore of businessmen like Vijay Mallya and the common people are standing in lines to get their own money,” he said.

Leader of Opposition in the Council, Dhananjay Munde, claimed that the rural economy incurred Rs 20,000 crore in losses. “The farmers and small traders have completely collapsed after the decision,” he said. In the evening,  the CM blamed the Opposition parties for not being mature. “This year, 78 per cent of sowing for the rabbi season has been completed. We have been taking various measures to bring some relief to the people after demonetisation. The government is also going to submit its affidavit in the court on Monday in connection with Maratha reservation,” he said.