Note ban: Kerala shuts down, protests held across India

Bengaluru, Nov 28: Normal life was hit in Kerala on Monday as the ruling CPI-M led LDF sponsored 12-hour strike against demonetisation evoked a near total response. Shops and business establishments downed shutters and state-run KSRTC and private buses kept off the roads across the state in response to the strike which began at 6 AM.

The Left Democratic Front took out marches at various places with state CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan here attacking the Centre for causing 'hardship' to the people in the name of its crackdown on blackmoney.

The Opposition Congress-led UDF, which did not participate in the hartal, took out a march to the Raj Bhavan instead to register its protest against the Centre's decision to scrap high value notes and consequent crisis in the state's cooperative sector. The UDF protesters were arrested, police said.

Banks functioned with reduced staff strength, while attendance in the state Secretariat and various government offices was thin, reports received here said. Two wheelers and private cars were seen plying, while autorickshaws too kept off the roads at most places.

With the Sabarimala pilgrim season on, Ranni, Chittar, Seethathode panchayats in Pathanamthitta district and Erumeli panchayat in Kottayam district have been exempted from the strike as also Tripunithura and Chottanikkara in Ernakulam where local temple festivities are on. Tourist vehicles have also been exempted from the hartal. Police vehicles helped in transporting railway passengers and patients coming from far off places to the Regional Cancer Centre here.

Karnataka

Joining the nation-wide 'Jan Aakrosh Diwas' against demonetisation of high value currency, ruling Congress in Karnataka held protests and rallies throughout the state against the Narendra Modi government's action. The protest affected the functioning of both the Houses of Karnataka Legislature, now in a 10-day winter session at Belagavi, as they did not sit today in line with the decision taken by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

BAC had decided to suspend the sitting amid opposition by BJP, which walked out of the meeting on Friday. Life in Bengaluru and elsewhere remained normal with commercial establishments, educational institutions, banks and private offices working as usual and public transport and Metro maintaining their regular services.

Official reports said barring protests by Congress, the situation in the entire state, including the districts of Mysuru, Gadag, Haveri, Belagavi, Kalaburgi, Chamrajanagar, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada and Kolar, was normal. In Bengaluru, Congress staged a demonstration in front of Town Hall near City Market at the nucleus of the city, where State Working President R Gundu Rao, a few legislators and local leaders took part.

Andhra Pradesh

Opposition parties organised widespread protests across Andhra Pradesh against the Centre's demonetisation move but no bandh as such was observed in the state even as leaders of CPI and YSRC were detained at some places following demonstrations. Congress's state unit president N Raghuveera Reddy led his party workers in a protest rally from Andhra Ratna Bhavan to Lenin Centre.

"We are not against the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes but why did the government introduce Rs 2000 note," Raghuveera said. He said the common man was put to untold misery because of the "abrupt" decision of the Centre to ban the high denomination notes. CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna and others were taken into custody at the Lenin Centre where they staged a protest on the demonetisation issue.

In Tirupati, YSR Congress leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and others were taken into custody. In Guntur city too YSRC leaders, led by West MLA Mustafa, were detained by police following a protest rally. YSRC leaders and workers were also taken into custody in many other districts of the state where protests were held. Left-affiliated trade unions organised dharnas in front of many bus depots of AP State Road Transport Corporation in the state.

Bihar

The nationwide strike call against demonetisation evoked mixed reaction in Bihar where workers of RJD, Congress and Left parties disrupted train services at many places but offices and schools registered normal attendance.

The protest had its echo in both Houses of the Bihar legislature where legislators of Congress, RJD and CPI-ML raised slogans against scrapping of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

BJP legislators countered them by raising slogans against them and in favour of demonetisation.

JD(U), a member of the ruling alliance, kept away from the stir in view of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's consistent support to demonetisation of high value notes to fight black money in the economy.

Congress, RJD and CPI-ML took out a protest march on the streets of Patna and stalled traffic movement at some places.

Road traffic was, however, normal and attendance in offices, banks and schools and colleges remained by and large unaffected.

Train services were hit at Darbangha, Madhubani, Masauri in rural Patna, Ara, Jehanabad and other places. Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway Arvind Kumar Rajak said running of more than a dozen trains was disrupted in different parts of Bihar due to the stir.

In Darbhanga, Ara, Masaurhi and Madhubani, CPI workers squatted on railway tracks.Outside Bihar Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, bandh supporters from RJD, Congress and CPI-ML, holding placards in their hands, shouted slogans at the entrance gate.

Haryana and Punjab

Opposition parties including Congress today staged a protest against the government over demonetisation issue at many places in Haryana and Punjab as part of the 'Jan Aakrosh Divas' observed across the country, even as normal life remained unaffected. Raising slogans, they demanded steps to ease the problems being faced by the people due to the demonetisation drive.

In Hisar, a large number of Congress activists took out a procession. They gathered outside Nagori Gate and later marched out in various bazaars (marketplaces). Jaipal Lali, Vice President of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee and other party leaders alleged that "demonetisation is a political move which is being sold as a fight against corruption".

'Jan Aakrosh Divas' rally was also addressed by various other Congress leaders who claimed that economic activities have come to a standstill since the scheme was announced.

Haryana's main opposition Indian National Lokdal (INLD) today submitted a memorandum to district administration in Hisar, with the party claiming that Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes "were scrapped to cover up the government's "failure" to deliver on Prime Minister's promise of bringing back black money." In Fatehgarh Sahib, most of business and educational institutes remained open as usual.

In Punjab's main industrial town Ludhiana, shops, factories, local and other means of transport functioned normal. However, a protest rally was taken out at clock tower chowk by the Congress. A group of Congress workers raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government.

Surinder Dawar, MLA and Gurpreet Gogi, President Ludhiana District Congress committee addressed the protesters. In Ropar district of Punjab, the Congress and the Left parties today took out separate protest march. The District Bar Association members also abstained from work.

The Congress march was led by Ropar DCC president Vijay Kumar Tinku and Charan Singh-- Secretary of CPI led the protest march of his party. All business establishments remained open.