Hyderabad: Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Mohd. Ali Shabbir on Thursday held both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao responsible for the suffering and misery of the farmers and the poor due to the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Addressing a media conference here, Mr Shabbir Ali criticised the NDA government for its hasty and lopsided measures before launching the demonetisation. He said the Shiv Sena, an NDA ally, was vehemently opposing it, but the ruling TRS was silent as it appears that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has an hidden agenda.

The MLC said that it was ridiculous that Mr Rao, has not commented against the Centre for ‘sidelining and ignoring’ him while it was hand-in-gloves with AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. He alleged that the Centre had alerted him to safeguard his personal interests and also that of his party-men.

Mr Shabbir Ali said that it was time the CM took up the issue seriously with the Centre and also took steps to stop the hardships being faced by people who have been badly hit due to sudden demonetisation.

“Nine persons have died in Telangana due to financial crisis and after standing for hours in the queues in front of banks in Telangana towns in the last one week, but the CM remains unmoved. He should take a note of the deaths and announce any relief to the bereaved families,” the MLC said.