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One month of demonetisation: Opposition leaders protest

by IBNS 08 Dec 2016, 08:04 am

New Delhi, Dec 8 (IBNS): One month passed since the Centre announced the decision to ban old currency notes on Nov 8 as Opposition leaders protested against the move in the Parliament on Thursday.

In a night address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 8 announced his government's move of banning old Rs 1000 and Rs. 500 currency notes.

Opposition leaders staged protest in the Parliament on Thursday over the issue.

Amid uproar over the issue of currency ban, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon on Thursday.

Opposition members of the house protested over the issue in the floor of the Rajya Sabha, making the Chairman adjourn the House till noon.

The Winter Session of the Parliament has witnessed repeated disruptions over the issue of currency ban since it commenced last month.

Opposition leaders protested against the Centre over the issue of banning old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes earlier in the Parliament premises on Thursday.

The leaders, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, protested at the Gandhi statue located inside the Parliament premise.

Calling Prime Minister's move of banning currency notes as a 'foolish decision', Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the people of the nation are suffering due to it.

He said the movie has devastated the 'specially poor people'

"This is not a bold decision. It is a foolish decision which has been taken without any due consideration," Gandhi told reporters.

"It has devastated poor, farmers,daily wage workers," he said.

He said the PM's narrative over taking the decision has changed.

"He started by saying its against black money and,then it became terrorism,then counterfeit currency and later cashless economy," Gandhi said attacking the Prime Minister.

He said the idea of 'cashless economy' will benefit only few companies.

In unprecedented scenes, millions of people since Nov 10 morning thronged in front of banks across the country to deposit the now-invalid Rs. 500 and rs. 1000 notes.

The Government has asked the people to deposit their Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes in banks within a specific time frame and get smaller denominations in exchange.

It has also  announced that deposits above Rs. 2.5 lakh will be taxed and could draw a 200 per cent penalty if found disproportionately higher than the account owner's income.

The banks have been asked to keep the details of PAN card of people depositing such large amounts over the 50-day period till Dec 30.