Left calls bandh, West Bengal CM to oppose

Kolkata: The Left parties called for a Bangla bandh on November 28 in protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision. However, chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is scheduled to lead a protest rally in the city on the same day, has declared that there will be no bandh in Bengal.

“Eighteen Left and democratic parties have given a call for a 12-hour bandh from 6 am to 6 pm on Monday to protest against demonetisation,” a press statement issued by Alimuddin Street on Friday evening said.

Describing Mr Modi’s demonetisation move as a “disastrous decision”, the Left parties have demanded the use of old scrapped notes till December 30, adequate availability of new currency notes, loans for farmers, and so on. “Banks, ATMs, post offices, hospitals, ambulances, water supply, newspaper, milk supply, et al have been kept outside the purview of the bandh,” the statement said. A CPI(M) leader said that the Bangla bandh was part of the nation-wide protests that Opposition parties will organise on November 28.

Ms Banerjee, who is a strict opponent of bandhs, made it clear that there will no bandh but just protests. “In Delhi, at the meeting of Opposition parties, a bandh was never discussed or agreed to. We do not support any bandh call. People are suffering, so I appeal to all to help citizens and stand by them at this hour of crisis,” the chief minister tweeted.

“There is no bandh, but protest on November 28. We will organise a protest march from College Square to Esplanade where I will also walk,” she told reporters at Nabanna.

Urban development minister Firhad Hakim said CPI(M) and its partners CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP do not have the strength to take out a protest rally.

“The Left parties had been unnerved by the manner in which Mamata Banerjee has gone on a war path against the Modi government’s dictatorial decision. The people who rejected their previous bandh will reject the bandh called on Monday,” he added.