Mumbai (The Hindu): On the first anniversary of the Central government’s scrapping of high denomination notes on Wednesday, Opposition parties, social and farmer organisations, NGOs and activists organised protests across the city and other parts of the State. The protests came in the form of processions, funerals, ‘barsi memorial prayers’ and ‘shraadh’ for the now-redundant currency notes. The anniversary was also marked by mass tonsuring and human chains.

 
Economy under attack

Congress leaders including Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Sanjay Nirupam, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and others took part in anti-demonetisation protests across the State, attacking the BJP-led government for the move which “pushed the economy to the brink”.

NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Dhananjay Munde, Sunil Tatkare and others organised processions in Mumbai, Pune and other major cities, criticising demonetisation for ‘rendering millions jobless and created an economic crisis in the country’.

City Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said, “Demonetisation didn’t end corruption or terrorism. The black money problem and fake currency issue exist even today. The only thing achieved was devastation of the poor and middle class. In all, 115 innocents died while claiming their own money. We consider this a dark day.”

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan said, “What is the celebration all about? People have died, many have lost their jobs due to demonetisation. The GDP has fallen and their is despair in the industrial sector. The move has turned out to be disastrous.”