Led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, the CPI-M led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala on Thursday formed a human chain extending from Raj Bhavan to Kasargode, to show displeasure against the Modi government's demonetisation move.
The last in the 700 km long chain at Kasargode district town was the Communist Party of India-Marxist's Lok Sabha member from Kasargode, P Karunakaran.
The rehearsal was held 15 minutes before and at 5 pm the human chain again was formed and a pledge was read out that was repeated by all.
The chain passed through the national highway and districts like Kottayam and Pathanamthitta where the highway does not pass.
Likewise, in the hilly districts of Idukki and Wayanad, a separate human chain was formed.
A record one million people joined the protest and even though similar human chains were formed before, today we could see that there was participation from people cutting across political affiliations... Demonetisation has crippled our economy, all sectors have been badly affected through this Tughlaq-style programme.Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, State Secretary,CPI-M
CPI-M Misusing Authority: BJP Leader
Former Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President V Muraleedharan said the CPI-M had spread the word that all those who work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme need not work for the day, but if they come for this human chain, they will get the day's wages.
"We have informed the central government about this and have demanded action as the state government is misusing their authority," said Muraleedharan in a statement here.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)