The Centre has reintroduced the “feudal landlord system” by demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, which has stripped the poor of their earnings, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday. “When our country’s economy was moving at a steady rate, the government brought in demonitisation...It has lost all credibility,” she added.

While speaking at a protest against demonitisation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the Trinamool Congress chief emphasised that their agitation was not related to elections but was aimed at making the government realise that their decision was affecting “normal people”. “I challenge Bharatiya Janata Party that this time, nobody will support them. Even their own workers will abandon them,” she said.

“Most industries have come to a standstill; labourers are not getting their daily wages and not able to eat anything,” she added, accusing the ruling party at the Centre of turning a blind eye towards the public’s grievances.

Banjerjee has been vocal of her opposition to the demonetisation move since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision on November 8. While she had called it a “draconian decision”, other Opposition parties, too, expressed their concerns, with some demanding a rollback of the decision.