After describing the Centre's move to demonetise high-value currency notes as an 'economic emergency', BSP supremo Mayawati today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop the 'emotional blackmailing' of the people who were facing hardships due to the decision.

'It is good that Modiji has left his family and village for the country but that does not mean that he would take immature decisions which are against the public interest and stick to them. He should stop emotionally blackmailing the people who are facing hardships due to the move,' she said in a statement.

The Bahujan Samaj Party leader had earlier described the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes as an 'imposition of an undeclared economic emergency' on the country by the Modi government.

Mayawati alleged that the decision was aimed at 'diverting the attention of the voters from the failures of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government ahead of the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand assembly polls'.

'Just before the Assembly elections in these states, Modi realised the problem of black money. Ninety per cent of the people is unhappy with this decision,' she claimed.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the poor and farmers were badly hit by the demonetisation, adding that the decision was not in the interest of the people.

Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Shivpal Yadav also raised his voice against the move citing the problems being faced by the people.

'The common man is facing a lot of problems due to the decision. They have to stand in queues to get their own money. Businesses have come to a standstill and the people are hassled due to the chaos prevailing in the country,' he said.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister had said he had left his village and family for the sake of the country.