18 Left, allied parties call 12-hour strike on Nov. 28

A 12-hour nationwide strike has jointly been called a by 18 Left and allied parties on Monday to protest against the inconvenience caused to the people due to the demonetisation drive of the Centre.

Announcing the decision, West Bengal Communist Party of India chief Biman Bose on Friday said banks, ambulances and emergency services would be functional during the 12-hour strike beginning 6 a.m.

Meanwhile, exchange facility of old 500 rupee and 1000 rupee currency notes, which was stopped at bank counters from Thursday midnight, will continue to take place at all Reserve Bank of India (RBI) counters.

The RBI in a notification issued said, the apex bank advises members of public that exchange of demonitised bank notes in 500 and 1,000 rupee denominations, will continue to be available at the counters of the Reserve Bank up to the current limit of 2000 rupee per person as hitherto.

The government had announced on Thursday that the demonitised 500 rupee and 1000 rupee notes can no longer be exchanged at the bank counters and the same will have to be deposited in bank accounts.

No changes were announced regarding the deposit of these high value notes in banks accounts, time limit for which remains as December 30, 2016.

Meanwhile, the deadlock in Parliament continues for the seventh day on demonetisation issue as both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day following uproar by the Opposition parties on the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on black money.

When the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon after first adjournment, the opposition including Congress, TMC and Left again raised the issue and shouted slogans. Amidst the noisy scene, the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan conducted Zero Hour. She tried to pacify the agitating members, however, the situation remained the same and she had to adjourn the House for the day.

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day as the Opposition parties continued their protest on the remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding black money. When the House met at 2.30 P.M. after lunch, the situation was no different. Congress members trooped into the well, raising slogans. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House as the din continued. The House witnessed two adjournments before adjourning for the day.