The united Opposition was divided on the call for Bharat Bandh against the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation order. While the Left parties, including the CPI-M and CPI, have called a 12-hour bandh to protest against demonetisation of old high-value currency notes, other opposition parties held protests in various parts of the country.
The Congress did not to go for a bandh but held protests nationwide. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said no 'Bharat Bandh' has been called by the party, which will however hold nationwide protests as part of 'Jan Aakrosh Diwas'.
The opposition parties have been divided over the ways to protest against demonetisation ever since Mamata Banerjee decided to march to the President against it earlier this month. While she was joined by Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference and Shiv Sena, an NDA ally, other opposition parties stayed away.
Congress
While various state units of the Congress party were protesting in their respective states, the MPs staged protest at Gandhi statue outside Parliament. The protest was led by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi as part of the 'Jan Aakrosh Divas' observed across the country.
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Many senior party leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Veerappa Moily along with J P Yadav of RJD, Supriya Sule of NCP, Kanimozhi of DMK and Mohd Salim of CPI-M participated in the protest near Gandhi statute.
Congress leader Moily termed the Modi government's move was a "fake fight and not a genuine fight against black money."
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee held a march from Mandi House to Parliament House at 5 pm to protest against the poorly-implemented demonetisation drive, which has caused unending misery to common people. The Congress workers will march towards Parliament House by beating empty thalis as a symbolic act to wake up a sleeping Modi Government.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury with CPI's Atul Kumar Anjan, D. Raja and Left leaders at a protest march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar, organised as a part of their nationwide strike against demonetiation in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
The state-wide 12-hour strike called by the Left Parties to protest demonetisation failed to evoke much response in West Bengal. Government and private buses, trams and other private vehicles were seen plying on the road while most of the shops and markets were open.
The strike call by the Left Front has been opposed by the ruling TMC in West Bengal.
The Left Front claimed that the strike is going on peacefully and accused ruling TMC of trying to unleash violence at certain places.
Front chairman Biman Bose and CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra took to the streets and participated in a procession in the metropolis.
DMK
Hundreds of workers from various opposition parties, led by DMK, were arrested when they staged protests across Tamil Nadu against the Centre over the manner in which the demonetisation was being implemented.
Besides DMK, leaders and workers of its allies -- Congress, IUML and Left parties were among those who hit the streets as part of the nation-wide protests, slamming the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as a "war on rural poor" and causing "hardship" to the common man.
DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, state secretaries of CPI-M and CPI G Ramakrishnan and R Mutharasan respectively, along with a several workers of their parties, were among those arrested when they staged protests separately in front of Central government offices and nationalised banks, police said.
"They got votes promising development, but made this sudden announcement which has crippled the development of all sectors. There are 85 crore Indians living in rural parts and the Centre has launched a war on them with this move," Stalin said.
RJD legislators protest against demonetisation during the ongoing Winter-session of the Bihar Assembly in Patna. Photo: PTI
JD(U)
The Janata Dal (United), a member of the ruling alliance in Bihar, kept away from the stir in view of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's consistent support to demonetisation of high value notes to fight black money in the economy.
The nationwide strike call against demonetisation evoked mixed reaction in Bihar where workers of RJD, Congress and Left parties disrupted train services at many places but offices and schools registered normal attendance.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses during a rally against demonetisation in Kolkata (Photo: PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatened to demonstrate outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence against demonetisation, vowing to dislodge him from the seat of power if the scrapping of high value currency notes is not withdrawn.
"The entire country is suffering. There is no money in banks, ATMS. So far 80 people have died due to the hardships caused by demonetisation. But Narendra Modi is having a sound sleep and giving lectures on taking the country towards cashless economy," she said.
Continuing her tirade against Modi, Banerjee said she would fight till the end until the decision is rolled back.
