Soumitra Chatterjee speaks against demonetisation

Kolkata, June 15 (IANS) Thespian Soumitra Chatterjee on Friday expressed his displeasure over demonetisation when a BJP leader came calling at his South Kolkata residence as part of the party's Jana Sampark Abhiyan (mass contact initiative).

Bharatiya Janata Party Secretary Rahul Sinha, who went to the veteran actor's Golf Green home, claimed that Chatterjee had no other issues with the performance of the BJP-led regime at the Centre. 

"He did not like the suddenness of demonetisation. Leaving that period, he did not speak out on any other issues. The rest of the work (done by the Modi government) is fine," Sinha, a former president of the BJP's West Bengal unit, said after the meeting. 

Chatterjee said the demonetisation initiative undertaken in November 2016 caused hardship to the people. 

"The thing I disliked about demonetisation, it was not done practically. Don't know about the long-term effects as I am not an economist, but it was very troublesome for the general people as big a amount of money had to be changed at one go," he said. 

The BJP leaders are reaching out to intellectuals and many non-political personalities throughout the country, seeking their views and suggestions as part of the party's mass contact programme ahead of next year's general election. 

The actor, however, accepted a copy of the booklet brought out by the party showcasing Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's achievements.