With CPI(M) deciding to observe November 28 as 'All-India Protest Day,' on the Centre's demonetisation issue, DMK today said it would stage protests outside central government offices in the state on that day.
Party chief M Karunanidhi said 'opposition leaders'-- the Left parties -- had decided to hold countrywide protests against the ruling BJP on the issue and that DMK will protest outside central government offices in Tamil Nadu.
"As far as DMK is concerned, massive protest demonstrations will be held outside central government offices in all the districts with the cooperation of the people," he said in a statement.
He urged good participation by party workers and asked them to voice support against this "anti-people" move of the Centre.
Karunanidhi also lashed out at the Centre, saying the common man was severely suffering.
He criticised Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu for saying that demonetisation will not be rolled back, claiming it had further "complicated" the situation.
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Meanwhile, DMK leader M K Stalin sought extension of today's deadline for acceptance of the now defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 for public utility and fuel payment, till March 2017.
"Since the deadline ends today, (government) should go in for a voting in both the Houses of Parliament and extend those sops till March 31, 2017," he said in a statement.
With banks struggling to cope with rush to get alternative currency, the government had on November 11 extended use of the now decommissioned high value currency notes for paying household utility bills, fuel, taxes and fees and purchases from co-operative stores till November 24, i.E., today.
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DMK also staged a state-wide 'human chain' protest this evening against demonetisation and sought a vote in Parliament on the issue.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should hold deliberations and take appropriate action on this issue," DMK Treasurer Stalin told reporters after inaugurating the human chain here.
He also mooted a "common vote" on demonetisation in both Houses of Parliament.
Stalin travelled in an open autorickshaw for several kilometres, enthusing his party cadres who had formed the chain on the margins of key roads.
Taking a dig at the Centre, he said while the BJP-led regime might claim that the people were on their side on the issue, the people actually "are on the side of banks" (to withdraw money or exchange scrapped notes).
People were enduring untold hardship, he said, claiming that banks did not have enough "change" to dispense.
He sought appropriate action by the Prime Minister to ease the crisis and alleviate people's sufferings.
Noting that the present situation should be set right, he said, "If the Centre had taken steps to ensure adequate circulation of sufficient notes including Rs 100 prior to the demonetisation move, such problems would not have arisen."
"Though the initiative has been done with the idea of rooting out black money, those responsible for it are at peace and only the common man is hit who have no link to hoarded money," he said.
In the neighbouring union territory of Puducherry, workers and functionaries of different wings of DMK took part in the human chain agitation. Carrying banners with slogans criticising demonetisation, they formed a long line on the sides of main roads.
The participants said the demonetisation had landed the traders, daily wage earners, petty vendors, unorganised labourers and others in 'utter disarray'.
