Demonetisation: Congress to launch Gujarat-wide protests from tomorrow

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Congress today said it would launch a state-wide agitation from tomorrow to highlight "problems" faced by common people in procuring new currency notes following the Centre's decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki made this announcement here today.

"Narendra Modi-led government's move to scrap the notes is anti-people and it has led to rise in unemployment," he said.

"The situation is getting out of control. People are going home empty-handed despite standing in queues outside banks for hours. Every section of society, be it farmers, students, labourers, youths, women and tribals, are facing tremendous problems in getting new notes," Solanki said in a press conference.

"Unemployment is increasing day-by-day due to cash crunch. Small traders and shopkeepers are not getting any business. To highlight these issues, Congress has decided to launch a state-wide agitation from tomorrow. Apart from staging protests in various parts of state, our workers will also help people in filling up forms outside banks," Solanki said.

While talking to reporters, senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela alleged that BJP has misused the cooperative banks to turn their black money into white.

"BJP helped their near and dear ones to turn their black money into white through cooperative banks. Many such banks were kept open during night to facilitate such illegal transactions. People want to know who was behind it and who came there to deposit their money," said Vaghela, who is the Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly.

"I want the government to provide three days of CCTV footage of all these banks to find out who actually exchanged their notes after office hours. I also want the PM to apologise for failing to handle the situation following demonetisation," added Vaghela.