After Delhi, Mamata to lead protest rally in city on November 28.
Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has hit the streets in Delhi thrice in the past one week, will lead a protest rally in Kolkata for the first time on November 28 to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision.
“The rally will begin from College Square at 1PM and end at Esplanade,” state housing, fire and environment minister and city mayor Sovan Chatterjee said on Thursday. Meanwhile, Trinamul Congress, which organised its maiden rally against the scrapping of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes in the city on Wednesday, held protests in district of the state on Thursday. A big protest march was also taken out in south Kolkata-from Gol Park to Hazra crossing.
From Darjeeling, Malda, North Dinajpur and Cooch Behar in north Bengal to East Midnapore, Burdwan, Hooghly and Howrah in south Bengal, ruling party workers took out protest rallies to protest against the move. “Our agitation will continue till the arrogant Modi government does not rollback its demonetisation decision, which has made life miserable for the common people,” urban development minister Firhad Hakim said, adding his party workers will hold protest meetings in every block on Friday.
Ms Banerjee had opposed the demonetisation immediately after Mr Modi announced it on November 8. She termed the decision “dictatorial’, “Hitleri”, “Tughlaqi” and “anti-people” and started uniting the Opposition to protest the move.
She personally called up Delgi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Laloo Prasad Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, JDU leader Sharad Yadav and even called on CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury to raise a unified voice.
Taking the battle to the enemy camp, the CM visited Delhi and led a protest march from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhawan on November 16, the first day of the Winter Session, along with leaders of AAP, Shiv Sena and National Conference. She addressed rallies in Azadpur Sabzi Mandi and at Jantar Mantar.
The mayor pointed out that Ms Banerjee will take her battle against the demonetisation to other states. “She enjoys enormous popularity not only in Bengal but in other states too. After leading a rally in Kolkata on November 28, she will address a rally in Lucknow on November 29 and in Patna on November 30,” Mr Chatterjee said.
