Shutdown call over demonetisation mostly fails, BJP terms it a flop'

New Delhi: Protests and shutdowns hit normal life in parts of the country on Monday as the Opposition parties upped the ante against the Centre’s demonetisation drive that has left millions cashless with knock-on effects for a mostly cash-based economy.

The Opposition looked divided with the Left, which has presence in Kerala, Bengal and Tripura, called for shutdowns in the three states, while others, including the Congress and the TMC, staged protests there and elsewhere in the country.

In Left-ruled Tripura, normal life remained disrupted as schools, colleges, shops were shut and vehicles kept off roads. In Kerala, normal life was hit as a strike call given by the ruling CPM-led LDF evoked a near-total response. But in West Bengal, the bandh — opposed by the ruling TMC — had little response.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, however, vowed to “evict Prime Minister Narendra Modi from politics” for his shock ban on India’s two largest banknotes accounting for 86% of all cash in circulation.

Mr Modi’s shock move three weeks ago has been followed by a spree of changing regulations for deposit, withdrawal and usage of currency, causing more chaos and confusion.

The Opposition parties, including the Congress, took out rallies at other places, including Delhi, and sought steps to ease a persisting cash crisis, but normal life largely unaffected. In Bihar, protesters stopped some trains. The protests and shutdowns did not evoke much response in BJP-ruled states. “In a single disastrous decision, Modi has demonetised the entire nation. People are angry and are protesting with Congress leading the ‘Jan Aakrosh Diwas’,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi took a swipe at the Opposition parties, saying their anger was over the Centre’s “blockade” of black money.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma termed the strikes and protests a flop. “People have rejected those who support black money and corruption. Leaders behind ‘Bharat Bandh’ and ‘Jan Aakrosh Diwas’ are tainted and have been rejected by people,” he said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and some other party leaders protested outside Parliament. The event was, however, given a miss by MPs of other parties, including TMC, JD(U), SP BSP and BJD. These parties were seen raising slogans inside the House.

In Delhi, parties, including Congress, AAP and Left, held separate rallies and demonstrations, and accused the PM of pushing India into an “unprecedented financial turmoil”.

In Tamil Nadu, hundreds of workers from the Opposition parties, led by DMK, were arrested as they staged protests across the state.

Life in Bengaluru and elsewhere In Karnataka remained normal with commercial establishments, educational institutions, banks and private offices working as usual, and public transport and Metro maintaining their regular services.

In Maharashtra, the Congress and the NCP hit the streets though normal life remained unaffected. Opposition protests also happened in Haryana and Punjab. Protesters said Mr Modi’s move was aimed ay covering up the government’s “failure” to deliver on the PM’s promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad. The Congress and the Left parties organised protests in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana.

The bandh had no response in Meghalaya as demonstrators raised slogans against Mr Modi and held placards condemning the demonetisation drive.