Cong men hit streets against demonetisation

Tribune Reporters

Ambala, January 6

Upping the ante against demonetisation, hundreds of Congress activists held a demonstration against the BJP government in Ambala City today.

They were led by Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh Viplove Thakur, former minister Nirmal Singh and former Haryana Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana.

They took out a protest march and reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC). They submitted a memorandum for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ADC.

“We need to raise our voice against the draconian move of the Prime Minister. Demonetisation was a poor decision and the corrupt have taken advantage of the situation. Corrupt BJP leaders have converted black money into white and helped others in lieu of commission,” Viplove said.

“The Centre must disclose how much black money has been detected through demonetisation. All sections of society have been facing inconvenience due to the move of the Centre. Restrictions on withdrawal of money from banks must be removed,” Mullana said.

“Demonetisation played havoc with the lives of millions of people. Nearly 115 persons have lost their lives while millions have been deprived of their livelihood. The Congress will not allow the BJP to take dictatorial decisions and will protest against the government,” Nirmal said.

“The Prime Minister has been facing corruption charges. As per income tax records, Modi was paid Rs 40 crore by Sahara before he became Prime Minister. Aditya Birla group paid him Rs 25 crore when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat,” he added.

The Congress demanded 20 per cent bonus on minimum support price for rabi crops, 50 per cent discount on sales tax and income tax for small businessmen for one year and a stop to commission on cashless transactions.

The Congress offloaded nearly 40 quintals of potato outside the DC’s office. The potato-laden tractor-trolley remained parked on the premises of DC’s office when Congress leaders addressed the workers in the park for nearly an hour.

The Congress leaders said farmers had failed to get remunerative prices and they were being forced to dump their crops. ADC RK Singh, who received the memorandum, said, “Appropriate action will be taken in this regard.”

PANIPAT

Congress activists protested against demonetisation and corruption at the Mini-Secretariat. They submitted a memorandum for the Prime Minister to Vivek Chaudhary, SDM, Panipat. They burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra near the Mini-Secretariat.

Congress workers gathered at the party office and took out a protest march. They were led by Dinesh Gurjar, observer sent by the AICC; Yash Arora, incharge; and Bijender Singh Billu, state vice-president. They reached the Mini-Secretariat raising slogans against the BJP government.

Gurjar said the protest was being organised on the direction of national vice-president Rahul Gandhi throughout the country. The party demanded compensation for the people who had been facing loss due to demonetisation and an inquiry against Modi for corruption allegations.

Congress leaders Jagdev Malik, Sanjay Chhokkar, Shashi Luthra, Khushi Ram Jaglan and Prem Bajaj were present during the protest.

Rewari

Congress workers led by Chiranjeev Rao, son of former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, today protested against demonetisation here. He also submitted a memorandum to the district authorities seeking compensation for the loss suffered by the common man due to demonetisation, removal of restriction over cash withdrawal and 50 per cent rebate in income and sales tax for small shopkeepers and traders.

Rao said acute resentment prevailed among the people against demonetisation as it had not only slowed down the economy but also adversely affected farming and business sector.

Former minister Narender Nath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to live up to the people’s expectation and the BJP had to pay the price in the Assembly elections in five states for its faulty policies.

SONEPAT

Hundreds of Congress activists led by former HPCC president Dharam Pal Malik and accompanied by senior party leaders, including MLAs Jagbir Singh Malik, Jai Tirath Dahiya, Sri Krishan Hooda and Jaiveer Singh and state Mahila wing president Sumitra Chauhan protested against demonetisation outside the Mini-Secretariat here today. The protesters raised slogans against the Centre and blocked the vehicular traffic on the Gohana road. They also handed over a memorandum of their demands to Deputy Commissioner KM Pandurang.

Speakers alleged that demonetisation was against the interests of the common man and the farming community had suffered the most. The farmers did not get remunerative prices for their produce due to non-availability of new currency notes, they alleged.

Karnal

Demanding removal of restrictions on withdrawal of cash, scores of Congress workers today took out a procession and staged a dharna outside the Mini-Secretariat here. They raised slogans against the Union government and termed the demonetisation as ‘surgical strike’ on the poor of the country.

Dinesh Gurjar, district in charge for the protest, demanded 18 per cent interest should be given to all bank account holders till the restrictions were in place. Pankaj Punia, accompanied by former minister Bhimsen Mehta and others, said that due to demonetisation, several persons had lost their lives and the Prime Minister should tender an apology and compensate the families which lost their kin due to demonetisation.

Kaithal

Congress workers led by Sudeep Surjewala and former Guhla MLA Dillu Ram took out a march against demonatisation here today. The party workers raised slogans against the Prime Minister and burnt his effigy. Addressing protesters, Sudeep and Dillu Ram said that even after more than 50 days of demonatisation, the public was still facing problems and inconvenience in withdrawing their money from banks. They said that demonetisation had paralysed the normal life and adversely affected business and industrial activities.