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India: Daily claims state BJP knew of demonetisation plans, deposited Rs 1 crore on morning of announcement

WION
Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaUpdated: Nov 11, 2016, 12:33 PM IST
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On the afternoon of November 8, a bank account at Indian Bank?s Central Avenue branch registered in the name of BJP ? West Bengal bearing an account number, 554510034 recorded a transaction under which Rs.60 lakhs were deposited, comprising all notes of Rs.1,000 denomination. Photograph:(WION)

Communist Party of India (Marxist) mouthpiece in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, known as ‘Ganashakti’ made startling revelations on Friday. 


The regional daily carried a page one story revealing that hours before the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a move to demonetise Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes, the Bengal unit of Bharatiya Janata Party deposited Rs.1 crore into its bank account comprising Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes. 


On the afternoon of November 8, a bank account at Indian Bank’s Central Avenue branch registered in the name of BJP – West Bengal bearing an account number, 554510034 recorded a transaction under which Rs.60 lakhs were deposited, comprising all notes of Rs.1,000 denomination. A few hours later, another transaction was recorded, where in Rs.40 lakhs were deposited, this time comprising notes of not just Rs.1,000 denomination but also Rs.500 notes. 


The CPI(M) claims that the Rs.1 crore deposited in the bank account of BJP’s Bengal unit hours before the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement reveals the close quarters of the party were aware of the government’s move of demonetisation. 


“Why did the BJP suddenly deposit this huge amount of Rs.1 crore hours before the announcement? Were they aware that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to announce something that same evening? This is not just an attempt to convert black money to white but also reveals that the party was aware of the government’s move,” said CPI(M) state secretary, Surya Kanta Mishra. 


Sujan Chakraborty, a CPI(M) MLA took a dig at the ruling party at the Centre – BJP that more such transactions have taken place across the country. “Here we have evidence of this transaction taking place in Bengal. But, similar transactions have taken place in other parts of the country, hours before the announcement,” Chakraborty said. 


On the other hand, the President of BJP’s Bengal unit, Dilip Ghosh ruled out the possibility of conversion of black money to white. “First of all, I’m not aware of any such transaction taking place. Even if this huge amount has been deposited, there is nothing wrong. We must have the sent the money to Delhi for election-related expenses. The party does not lack funds in this part of the country,” said Ghosh. 


Another leader of the Bengal unit of BJP, Jayaprakash Majumdar said it was a completely legal bank transaction.

(WION)