IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Nov 28: The ‘united opposition’ miserably failed to make Bharat Bandh (Shutdown) on Monday a success except few states nationwide where road and rail traffic were disrupted by Left supported protesters. The 12 hours strike jointly called by several parties against demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes failed to evoke much response from across the nation.
Congress which had earlier given a call of nationwide shutdown perhaps realized that it has not regained the ground after the debacle of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, suddenly changed its stand on Sunday and said it would hold ‘Jan Akrosh Divas’ instead.’
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said, “There will be protest rallies; we have not called for a ‘Bharat bandh’. Misinformation has been spread by the BJP, which is ill-informed.”
“The Bharatiya Janata Party has spread the misinformation that the Congress and other opposition parties have called for a ‘bandh’. The country is already shut from November 9, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation move. That’s why we don’t want a ‘Bharat bandh’,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh yadav alleged BJP ruling central government to make people suffer severely due to demonetization.
“I asked on 8th November that people should not be suffered but it didn’t happen. Modi government was not prepared for the decision of demonetization,” he said.
Though, Samajwadi Party workers demonstrated against demonetization and halt trains in Allahabad. While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayavati said that the BSP withdrew itself from being part of the bandh.
“We are not the part of nationwide strike, we are protesting against the demonetisation in our way. It should be investigated that how much money BJP has deposited in the banks?” Mayawati said.
Trinmool Congress didn’t participate in the 12 hours strike called by Left parties in West Bengal but Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee blamed PM Modi not to take care of common people being suffered.
“This demonetisation has affected everyone adversely. Prime minister has not taken care of them. He just appeared like God with this dictating decision,” she said.
Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s party Janta Dal United (JDU) had already distanced itself from the protest and so is the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) led by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnayak arguing that the party supports demonetisation move.
General Secretary of JDU Pawan Varma said, “Mr Nitish Kumar had made it clear that the Opposition has the right to pursue their own political agenda. He has spoken to Lalu Prasad ji and Congress about this. It will not affect the grand alliance.”
The states where bandh was seen effective were Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Kerala.
In the national capital Congress and Aam Aadmi Party protested against the government’s sudden decision of scrapping the high value currency notes. While most of the business establishments remained open in Delhi, Congress supported National Students Union of India (NSUI) organised ‘Sansad Gherav’ which was not allowed by Delhi police.
Addressing the protesters Senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel said, “The way the government is functioning, it is a direct ‘attack’ on the democratic values of the country.” “The government has taken the decision of demonetisation in a hurry and common people are facing the repercussion,” he said.
Senior party leader Anand Sharma alleged that the decision to seize the legal tender of higher currency notes is aimed at diverting people’s attention from the real issues and government failures.
“The demonetisation has become a talking point following the announcement made by Prime minister in this regard on November 8,” he said.
Congress Spokesperson Ranjeet Surjewala demanded that a Joint Parliamentry Committee (JPC) be formed to probe the government’s decision of demonetisation.
“The demonetisation is a scam in which Prime minister and his party men are involved,” he alleged.
When the NSUI members marched towards parliament they scuffled with the police and cops used a mild force to disperse the protesters. Protesters were detained at Parliament Street police station where they were let off later.
