Sharad, supporters to meet in Delhi today

New Delhi, Oct. 7: Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav on Saturday announced a nationwide protest by the opposition against the Union government over its decisions to demonetise high-value currency and the trouble faced by traders due to the GST rollout.

The announcement came a day before Mr Yadav’s faction holds its national council meeting, and after they went to the Election Commission to stake claim over the party’s symbol.

Lashing out at the government over demonetisation of high-value currency in November and the Goods and Services Tax rollout, Mr Yadav said both the steps devastated the economy, especially small and medium enterprises.

He asserted that the next Lok Sabha election, due in 2019, would be fought on economic issues. Quoting socialist stalwart Ram Manohar Lohia, he told reporters that when the government and the parliament were keeping quiet, it was time to increase the political heat on the streets.

He dismissed as an “eyewash” the changes the GST Council made on Friday to give relief to small and medium businesses, and said they were meant to divert people’s attention at a time when anger was building up against the government.

Mr Yadav said Bihar had seen many small communal incidents during Dussehra and Muharram, “something, that never happened before”.