6 Left parties to launch protests against demonetisation

Accusing the Centre of overlooking the "misery" of common people caused by demonetisation, six Left parties, today decided to launch week-long joint nationwide protests to highlight "continued agony" of people.
Speaking to press persons after the meeting of the Left parties here, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the parties are also working towards organising Protest Day along with other opposition parties against demonetisation.
Among other, Yechury accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "disrupting" Parliament by allegedly not answering queries raised by MPs in both the Houses and said the Left parties are "seriously" considering bringing contempt motion against the latter over the issue.

"We have decided to stage joint all India protests against the continued agony suffered by vast sections of people over the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes by this government. We have decided to mobilise people against the move between November 24 to November 30," Yechury, accompanied by other Left leaders, told reporters.
At the same time, Yechury added the Left parties -- including CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, SUCI(C), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc -- are working towards organising a 'Protest Day' against demonetisation along with other opposition parties.
"The actual (date) Day will be worked out along with other opposition parties, hopefully at the earliest," Yechury said.

In their statement issued after the meeting, the Left parties appealed to "all those opposed to the decision to join these actions".

When asked by a reporter if they are also appealing to arch rival TMC, which too has opposed demonetisation, Yechury said, the "protests are by Left parties".
"As far as others (opposition parties) are concerned, at the level of Parliament, the protests are happening separately. We as the Left parties have given this call for the protest," he added.
Seeking to pick holes in the demonetisation move, Yechury said the government made it "sans adequate preparations" and demanded it to compensate adequately those who have died "as a result of demonetisation" and whose life has been ruined by the decision.

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"We demand the government to compensate adequately all those who have lost their lives during last two weeks as a result of this move. More than 70 have reported to have lost lives so far. And (compensate) also those whose livelihood has been ruined. Complete paralysis in rural areas," Yechury said.
The Marxist leader reiterated the decision will not help achieve the stated objectives of combating black money, corruption and terror funding.
Instead, he said, the government should recover money to the tune of Rs 11 lakh crore from non performing assets (NPAs) and also make public names of those who have illegal money stashed in banks abroad and in tax havens.

Besides Yechury, his CPI counterpart S Sudhakar Reddy, CPI(ML)-Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI national secretary D Raja and others took part in the meeting.