Poor camping outside bank, PM Modi’s friends sleeping peacefully: Arvind Kejriwal

The AAP leader called the decision to demonetise the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes a poorly planned scheme and asked the government to stop being adamant and withdraw it immediately. “It is beyond our understanding how corruption and black money can be fought by introducing 2,000 rupee notes in place of the outgoing 1,000 rupee notes?”

The chief minister announced an emergency session of the Delhi assembly over the issue of demonetisation. He will also meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday to step up the fight against the Modi government. Kejriwal said Civil Defence volunteers would be deployed in Delhi to help the hundreds of thousands standing in serpentine queues outside banks and ATMs.

Talking about the government’s announcement that cash was being despatched to remote corners in IAF aircraft, Kejriwal said this showed the government was now in a panic mood and that there had been no proper prior planning. He also said that touts were making merry amid the nationwide crisis while the honest people were queuing up for their own money.

“The Prime Minister has sought 50 days time for things to normalise. On behalf of the traders, I want to ask the PM how will their work go on for the next 50 days? “Trade and business have been hit hard across the country. Roll this back. We don’t see any solution coming (to the cash crisis),” said Kejriwal.