Congress to step up note ban protest

New Delhi: The Congress is about to step up its drive against demonetisation by sending party leaders across the country to inform the people about the “demerits” of the Centre’s decision.

Besides party general secretary Digvijaya Singh’s recent visit to Patna and spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala heading for Lucknow, several of its senior leaders are set to leave for other places in the next two days to spread the party’s message.

Leaders aware of the development said the AICC plans to educate the masses about how the currency ban was not a measure to curb black money, which the ruling party at the Centre has made it out to be. The leaders have been told to hit upon the “failed promise” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back black money stashed abroad in the first hundred days of him forming the government. Besides, the government which projects itself as the progenitor of good governance failed miserably in managing the entire ‘cash exchange’ episode. Lastly, the leaders have been instructed to point out the “restrictions” imposed by the government on people withdrawing “their own taxed money”.

For his part, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has been visiting ATMs in Delhi to assess the situation. While the party took out two rallies in the national capital to address the issue, it felt it needed to “go to the people” who have been left reeling under the chaos even as BJP leaders continue to be arrested with new currency notes.

Parliament, meanwhile, continues to witness deadlock with the Opposition persisting with its demand that the PM participate in a debate over the issue.