Protests on notes ban today but opposition divided over ’Bharat Bandh’

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 28, 2016:  Opposition parties are protesting across the country today against the Centre’s currency ban and its impact on people’s lives, but only the Left has called for a Bharat Bandh or nationwide shutdown.
   

Parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have said they do not support a bandh in view of the huge costs involved. But they will continue their protests in Parliament and on the streets.
   
In West Bengal, one of three states where the Left parties have a presence, there has been virtually no impact of the bandh call this morning. Schools, offices and factories are open. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool will lead a protest march in capital Kolkata in the afternoon.
   
In Kerala, where the Left party CPM heads a coalition government, the bandh call is expected to have an impact. Banks, tourists and their vehicles have been exempted, but shops will remain closed and public transport is off the roads.
   
There is unlikely to be much impact of the bandh call in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has stood out among opposition leaders in his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ban on 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, saying he is convinced it will help combat corruption and black or undisclosed money.
   
The BJP and its allies have thanked Nitish Kumar for his support. "I thank Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the battle against black money," BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted on Sunday.
   
At a rally in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi lashed out at the opposition for planning to shut down the country when he was trying to shut down corruption.
   
The Congress clarified that it has not called for a Bharat bandh. "Misinformation has been spread by the BJP which is ill-informed," said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
   
The BJP’s Venkaiah Naidu shot to say, "Knowing the popular support to demonetisation, the Congress has changed its tactics from calling for a countrywide bandh to Jan Aakrosh rallies. It is clear that all this is aimed at finding space in the media as they have clearly lost out space in the debating forum of Parliament and the minds of the people."
   
The Congress has led the opposition in stalling a debate in Parliament, demanding that PM Modi be present during the discussions, explain the notes ban and apologise for the decision that has put the common man through much hardship amid a massive cash crunch after 86 per cent of money in circulation was pulled.
   
The government has said the PM will speak on the notes ban in Parliament and has accused the opposition of running away from debate. It has said that the people have overwhelmingly backed the move to fight corruption and that the inconvenience caused will ease within 50 days.