Congress to protest against cash crisis

Mumbai: Following completion of 50 days of the demonetisation decision, Congress has lashed out at the BJP government saying there is no change in the plight of the people. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan Wednesday said his party would launch a statewide stir from the first week of January to protest against the fact that the hardships of the common man have not reduced since demonetisations.

Mr Chavan addressed party workers at a function to mark the 132nd foundation day of the Congress.  “Fifty days have passed since demonetisation and despite assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that people’s hardships will ease, the ground reality is different. The people cannot withdraw their own money. There is no option but fight the battle with the government on roads,” Mr Chavan said.

Attacking the Prime Minister, Mr Chavan said he should answer the questions posed by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi regarding allegations of bribery. Mr Gandhi had said that the demonetisation was not a surgical strike on corruption and black money as projected by the PM and his ministers, but was an “economic robbery” and “firebombing on India’s poor”.

Mr Chavan said the demonetisation decision was taken without giving much thought to the repercussions. “The demonetisation is causing lots of inconvenience for farmers, labourers, women and working classes. The farmers are not getting (the right) price for their agriculture products. The rural economy has come to a standstill,” he said.

The Congress has decided to make the note ban an issue in the upcoming BMC polls also. The party would be holding agitations at various places to raise the voice of the people.