Congress marches to PM's residence to protest demonetisation

New Delhi: The Congress Party on Wednesday evening took out a protest march from the AICC office in Delhi over the demonetisation of high-value currency notes and alleged that the nation is suffering courtesy Prime Minister Narendra Modi's declaration of economic emergency.

Holding placards, scores of Congress workers and supporters gathered to vent their ire against the government's move and raised slogans such as "Modi mitra kushal, janata behaal" and "Abki baar janata ki mehnat ki kamai par vaar".

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Ajay Maken, who led the protest march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, told the media that Prime Minister Modi is least bothered about the poor and lower income groups.

"We are raising our voice for the poor people as they are the one suffering most after the government's move. Everyone is suffering due to the Prime Minister's move but he is not at all concerned for the poor," he said, adding the Prime Minister must put forth his views regarding this issue in Parliament.

Read: Rahul Gandhi does not understand note ban, waiting for his expert views: Govt

Maken further said the protest is aimed at making the Prime Minister aware of the difficulties faced by the people, adding this decision has nothing to do with bringing back black money.

Another Congress leader P.C. Chacko alleged that this "economic emergency" is causing hardship to lakhs of people across the nation.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that Prime Minister Modi is following a feudal landlord system whereby he is snatching the earnings of the poor.

"After coming to power, this government has paid no heed to the grievances of the people. This government has lost its credibility in the eyes of the general public and if credentials are lost then everything is lost. This government has courtesy this move brought in a feudal landlord system whereby the earnings of the poor are being snatched," said Banerjee during the protest at the Jantar Mantar here.

Mamata is presently staging a sit-in protest at the Jantar Mantar here pressing Prime Minister Modi to rollback the policy in view of inconvenience caused to the general public.

For the fifth day of the Winter Session, the Parliament could not transact any substantial business due to uproar over demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes as both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments amid allegations and counter-allegation by the members of opposition and treasury benches.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government is ready for discussion on the issue. However, he also expressed concern of the repeated adjournment of the Parliament due to protest of the opposition.

Earlier, Congress leader Anand Sharma alleged that the government has created financial anarchy in the country with their demonetisation move.

CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the government is answerable to the House and Parliament is answerable to the people.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, while leaving the Parliament, said the grand old party wants a debate under the adjournment motion and the government is scared to allow that.