Barely 24 hours after 18 Opposition parties called for nationwide protests on 8 November – marking one year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that high-value currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would be held illegal tender, the Centre has declared that it will observe the day as ‘Anti-Black Money Day’
November 8 will complete one year of demonetisation. The party has decided to celebrate the day as Anti-Black Money DayArun Jaitley, Finance Minister
The announcement comes a day after a near-united Opposition of 18 parties announced that they would hold protests across the country on 8 November.
One can say this is the scam of the century. Eighteen political parties have decided to hold protests in every state in their capacity against the government’s decision which caused hardships to the people.Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha
Jaitley dismissed the Opposition’s attacks, stating that demonetisation has helped the country transition to a cashless economy, and that the Centre rooted out several undiscovered funds and took legal action against defaulters. This, he reiterated, would not have been possible without demonetisation.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, in turn, said that the party would observe 8 November as ‘Black Day’.
Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the CPI(M), said Left-affiliated trade unions would hold protests on 9, 10, and 11 November.
The DMK in Tamil Nadu has also said they would protest in all the districts across the state on 8 November. DMK working president MK Stalin slammed the BJP for not delivering on its promises.
The BJP government did not come forward in Parliament and condole the deaths which occurred in queues, banks, and ATMs. The party has also failed to implement its pre-poll promises such as depositing Rs 15 lakh in each Indian’s bank account and ensuring economic growth.MK Stalin, working president, DMK
The Aam Aadmi Party, in New Delhi, also intensified its attack.
A seven-member coordination committee of leaders of the Congress, TMC, SP, BSP, DMK, the Left, and the breakaway JD(U) faction will spearhead the protests on 8 November.
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