No impact on demonetisation protest by opposition parties in Odisha
28 November, Bhubaneswar
The 12 hours dawn to dusk hartal called by the left parties to protest against the demonetsation evoked no response and failed to have any impact on normal life in Odisha.
Even though some shops were closed but normal life was as ususal in the state despite the demonstrations by the Congress,CPI,CPI-M, CPI-ML,SP, and SUCI whose activists staged demonstration in front of Reserve Bank of India(RBI) office here and before various branches of State Bank of India Monday to protest against what they called the economic chaos in the wake of demonetization of Rs.500 and Rs.100 currency notes.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) did not participate in the demonstration organized by the opposition left parties as the Naveen Patnaik government had welcomed the demonetization move of the central government.Banks were opened and functioning normally across the state.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Prasad Harichandan said the party organized Jana Akrosh rallies in all the 314 blocks of the state and staged dharna in front of the RBI office here.
The state government has ordered closure of all private and government educational institution in the state for the safety of the students.The Utkal University has also cancelled all its examinations scheduled to be held today .
Mr Harichandan alleged that an economic anarchy has prevailed in the country due to the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by the central government and common people were suffering a lot.
The SP which also held demonstration in front of the RBI office here and in some other places before the banks demanded the government to allow the use of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes till December 30 next for the convenience of the common people and small traders.
Vehicular traffic was normal in the state capital and other places across the state .Business establishments and private organisations mostly remained open while the government buses and other private vehicles were also seen plying on the road.
The protesters staged demonstration at various places. The activists of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) took out a procession from Master Canteen square in Bhubaneswar and demonstrated in front of the office of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Similarly, Congress leaders also took out a rally from the Congress Bhawan and held similar demonstration in front of the RBI.The party observed the day as ‘Akrosh Divas’ to lodge its protest against demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs.1000 currency notes