Opposition parties protest currency crackdown

OPPOSITION parties in India yesterday held nationwide protests against the government’s currency crackdown and its disruptive impact on people’s lives.

India’s highest value bank notes of 500 and 1 000 rupees (R97.4 and R208.7) ceased to be legal tender from midnight of November 8. The move led to a liquidity crunch and widespread chaos as people queued up at banks to exchange old currency.

Premier Narendra Modi defended the move saying it would fight corruption and tax evasion, but the opposition has accused the government of mishandling the currency ban.

The main opposition Indian National Congress that called for Jan Aakrosh Diwas (a people’s day of rage) launched the day-long agitation with a protest outside Parliament House in Delhi.

During the day, tens of thousands of people joined the protest marches and demonstrations organised by over a dozen opposition parties in different parts of the country.

Major rallies were taken out in cities such as the national capital Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

Congress leaders accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary people.

Opposition parties also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of a scam saying the party used unaccounted funds in its coffers to buy parcels of land across the country.

Left-wing parties called for a nationwide shutdown, but it affected only small states like Tripura and Kerala where they have a presence. Markets, factories, offices and schools remained open in most parts of India. – dpa