Note ban anniversary: 'Cong paying tributes to those who died in bank queues'

The Congress party on Wednesday said they are paying tributes to those people who allegedly died in bank and ATM (automated teller machines) queues on the first anniversary of demonetisation.

"It is the first anniversary of demonetisation, but we are paying tributes to those 150 people who allegedly died while standing in queues of banks and ATMs, due to the move," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for the note ban, Surjewala questioned whether the country's banking sector was ready to tackle such a situation.

"Modi ji has withdrawn the Rs. 1,000 note on one hand and he has introduced a Rs. 2,000 note on the other. Does it not defeat his own argument? What is the point of cancelling large denomination notes and replacing them with even larger denominations? Those who hoard black money will now be able to stash even more money," he added.

Surjewala was seen wearing a black band on his arm to commemorate the day as "black day".

Further continuing his attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress spokesperson said "robbers are celebrating the robbery" on the anniversary of demonetisation.

While the BJP observed the note ban anniversary as 'Anti Black Money Day', Congress commemorated the day as 'Black Day'.

The Opposition party held demonstrations across the country to mark the day.

On November 8, 2016, the Centre declared Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes as non-legal and introduced new Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 notes.