Mayawati accuses Modi of ‘criminal indifference’ to people’s cash problems

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, accusing him of “criminal indifference” to problems being faced by people in the wake of the move.

In a statement, the former UP Chief Minister said that rather than realising the blunder he has committed, Modi and senior ministers are making fun of the people by saying that they are supporting the move.

“When the entire country is standing in queues outside banks and ATMs, even claiming that people are supporting demonetisation is like adding insult to injury,” she added.

The BJP, she contended, has not learnt even from the misfired 2004 “India Shining” campaign when it was claiming all-round progress, while the country voted them out. “This will be repeated again,” she added.

“The fact that people are not able to withdraw from banks their own hard-earned money is a matter of shame for this government,” she said.

Taking on her arch rival – the state’s ruling Samajwadi Party, she said that the “old BJP friend” is now tacitly supporting demonetisation as is evident in cane charges and use of force on people standing in queues outside banks in the state.