NEW DELHI, November 27 : Congress on Sunday made it clear it has not called for a ' Bharat bandh ' on Monday, but will hold protests across the country against demonetisation, which it alleged "was a political move being sold as a fight against corruption".
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, party leader Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in "dhamaka" politics and the decision to scrap high-value currency notes was taken because he had seen the "writing on the wall" in Uttar Pradesh, where polls are due next year.
He claimed that Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were scrapped to cover up the government's failure to deliver on the Prime Minister's big electoral promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad and Modi wanted to do something "dramatic".
"It is a political move which is being sold as a fight against corruption," Ramesh said hitting out at the Centre.
He said people who have amassed wealth by illegal means are not suffering, but those who do not have black money are facing hardships.
"Unfortunately, people who needed to be attacked have gone scot-free," he said, adding that one section of "suited-booted" people was still leading a life of luxury.
Ramesh, a former Union Cabinet minister, claimed that BJP was spreading misinformation that Congress and other parties have called for a 'Bharat bandh'.
The Opposition parties will hold protests across the country by observing "Jan Aakrosh Diwas", he said.
Taking a swipe at the Modi government, he said economic activity has anyway come to a standstill since November 9.
Asked what will be the Opposition's strategy in Parliament, Ramesh said a debate will happen if the Prime Minister participates in it.
The Congress leader also questioned government's preparedness to bring in new currency notes, saying that according to estimates, it may take up to 250 days to print new notes and bring economy back on the track.
He also criticised the Prime Minister's call for a "cashless" or "lesscash" society, saying that in India, a majority of people use cash for daily transactions."
"Such things take time and cannot be forced by giving shocks," Ramesh said.
JD (U) to abstain from agitations
In pursuance of party chief Nitish Kumar support to demonetisation, JD (U) has decided to keep off from the nationwide protest by Opposition on Monday against the scrapping of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes as well the dharna to be held by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee here on 30 November.
"We have supported and welcomed the Centre's demonetisation move. Then how can we oppose or be the part of activity like bandh which is meant to protest the issue which our party has strongly supported," Bihar unit JD(U) President Bashishtha Narayan Singh told PTI.
Singh attended a high-level party meeting held by party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar last evening to take a decision on Monday's stir called by Opposition parties to corner the Narendra Modi government over the ban on denomination currencies to fight black money.
"JD(U) will not be part of any agitation against demonetisation including the dharna of Mamata on 30 November in Patna," party Secretary General KC Tyagi said.
"We have taken an ideological position in favour of demonetisation so how can we be part of any agitation seeking its roll back," Tyagi said while stating his party's stand on the proposed agitation as well as the sit-in by TMC chief, who is on the forefront of agitation against demonetisation.
Kumar on Friday had said that he had a talk with Mamata only before her visit to Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet President Pranab Mukherjee against the demonetisation. "She had spoken to me before going to Rashtrapati Bhawan and I had pointed to her that even the President has supported demonetisation," Kumar had said about parleys with Banerjee.
The party, however, believes that the hardship caused by cash-crunch to the common people could have been avoided with efficient and effective management, he said adding, "we'll certainly raise the issue of inconvenience and hardship being faced by the people at an appropriate forum including Parliament".
While the JD (U) has decided to keep distance from any agitation of its allies in Bihar, coalition Congress and RJD have decided to support it.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) will be joining their central organization to protest the centre’s ‘demonetization.’ The NPCC issued a note on Sunday informing that the protest has been scheduled for November 28. The venue for said event is Supermarket in Dimapur. The time is scheduled for 11 am, the note informed.
