Minor response to agitation in Odisha

The 12-hour agitation against demonetisation by Left parties and Congress today evoked minor response in Odisha, with long distance buses remaining off the roads and educational institutions closed.
However, small vehicles like auto-rickshaws plied as usual in almost all places, while the business establishments and government and private offices remained open.
Besides five left parties, Congress activists observed the 'Jana Akrosh' agitation and demonstrated in all blocks in the state while the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) activists took out a procession in Bhubaneswar, Puri and other places.
Most of the activists demonstrated in front of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) office here.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Prasad Harichandan and other senior members were detained while picketing near the RBI office.
"We had not called for a bandh, but observed the day as 'Akrosh Divas'. The bandh is as such being witnessed across the country ever since Prime Minister announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. There is a nationwide financial crisis," Harichandan told reporters.

State CPI Secretary Dibakar Nayak said, "We demand the people should be allowed to withdraw their money from bank. We also want that the old notes be allowed till sufficient currency notes are available to the people. Modi's decision has affected common man and farmers."

CPI-M state Secretary Ali Kishore Patnaik said the country's economy would "collapse due to the wrong" decision of the Modi government, which should allow people to use the old currency notes so that they do not suffer.
The CPI(Maoist) also extended support to the countrywide demonstration. The Malkangiri division of the outlawed outfit appealed to the people in a statement to support the move against demonetisation.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, however, took a jibe at the BJD government in Odisha for indirectly supporting the demonetisation move. "Initially, they supported demonetisation, but surprisingly the Odisha government has shut down schools and colleges. This is the double standard of BJD," Pradhan said.

The ruling BJD had welcomed the demonetisation move and did not participate in the protests today.
Home department officials said there was no report of any major untoward incident in the state during the agitation.