TMC takes to streets to protest note ban

Kolkata: While chief minister Mamata Banerjee was lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for the latter’s “Hitleri” decision to scrap currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations, her posse of ministers and leaders were extending support to her from Kolkata where they had hit the streets in protest against the demonetisation decision.  

The Trinamul Congress’ protest march was originally scheduled to start at 2 pm but it began much earlier from College Square and ended at Dorina Crossing at Esplanade. All top state leaders including Amit Mitra, Sovan Chatterjee, Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Sobhandeb Chatterjee, Bratya Basu, Sashi Panja and others took part in the protest padayatra. Education minister Partha Chatterjee also addressed the rally at Esplanade. “Modi hatao, desh bachao” was one of the many slogans which the TMC leaders raised during the protest march.

“Mamata Banerjee was the first political leader in the country who protested demonetisation immediately after Mr Modi announced his Tughlaqi decision on the evening of November 8. Trinamul Congress has always stood by the people in distress. Mr Modi’s decision has created financial anarchy in the country. Ms Banerjee is protesting in Delhi and we on the streets of Kolkata,” Mr Hakim, the state urban development minister, said.

Finance and industry minister Amit Mitra said nowhere in the world has demonetisation ever taken place on such a huge scale.

“It is not a war against black money: it is an attack on common man,” Mr Mitra said while walking in the rally. Comparing him with Hitler, power minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee said his dictatorial decision has left labourers, daily wage earners, small traders in the lurch. “ We will continue our fight against this injustice till we force Hitler to step down,” he added.

There would have been a much larger turnout at the protest roadshow had Ms Banerjee been present. Education minister and TMC secretary general Mr Chatterjee warned of a bigger movement if the Centre did not roll back the demonetisation.

“If they do not withdraw the decision, we will launch a much bigger movement across the country. Our party chief is in Delhi to launch a pan-India movement,” he said.

Ms Banerjee will next address a protest rally in Lucknow and Patna in the coming days. TMC will continue to organise rallies on Thursday and Friday across the state.