One month of demonetisation is death anniversary of high-value notes: TMC

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) cornered the government for running away from debate and voting on the demonetisation decision, adding today is the death anniversary of high-value currency notes as several people have lost their lives post this move.

"We thought that a strong protest is to be lodged on the 8th of this month. One month has been passed and we are of the opinion that it is a death anniversary of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes. We wore black badges today. This was the idea our leader Mamata Banerjee wanted to float and wanted that this idea be implemented," TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said.

He said more than 100 people have died and the common people have faced difficulties due to the demonetisation move.

"The people belonging to unorganised sectors, tea garden workers, labourers... every stage has reached to an intolerable situation. We are trying to raise the issue on the floor of the House with some adjournment motion or under Rule 184 with a demand that discussion with voting that is not being taken up by the government," he added.

The TMC leader further said all opposition parties are together observing 'Black Day' as they feel it would send a very good message to the people of the country.

"Our fight against this will continue. We are committed against black money to be recovered. We are committed to see that the black money holders are punished properly. We want to know that how many black money holders in that sense have been arrested so far. So, we believe this programme will give a ray of hope in the minds of the common poor people of the country," he added.

A united opposition has decided to observe a black day today to mark the completion of one month since Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the surprise demonetisation announcement on November 8.

The members of Parliament from opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha as well as the Lok Sabha wore black bands and held a protest at the Gandhi statue in Parliament to highlight the consequences of the severe liquidity crunch on the poor and in the informal sector which runs on cash.