Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of Congress activists Wednesday gheraoed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regional office here protesting the Centre’s demonetization and interference in RBI’s autonomy.
The protests also led to minor scuffle between police personnel and Congress activists as the cops intervened apprehending law and order situation.
Led by former Union minister and former speaker Shivraj Patil the agitators shouted slogans against the BJP-led government for ‘‘zeopardising the economy of the country in the name of demonetization to check black money.
Patil, who addressed the activist during the agitation, said the Modi government has been trying to hand over the money, deposited by poor and middle class people, to black-listed private companies, which have not repaid thousands of crores of rupees to the banks.
He further said the move will also have an adverse impact on BJP ahead of panchayat elections.
The Congress leaders also submitted a memorandum addressed to Governor Deputy Governor and Central Board of Directors, RBI, seeking ‘right of withdrawal of money without restrictions; resignation of RBI governor for demonetisation mess, economic anarchy and restoration of RBI’s autonomy’.
Meanwhile, a minor scuffle erupted during the party demonstration when the political outfit tried to gatecrash into the RBI office. As hundreds of activists gathered in front of the office along with party’s state chief Prasad Harichandan, state Congress co-in-charge Subhankar Sarkar and others, the police blocked the road leading to the RBI office. However, police managed to control the mob.
Reacting to the Congress protests, state BJP president Basant Panda said the Congress party has been enacting the drama in order to gain political advantage ahead of panchayat polls.
Patil ‘soft-pedalling’
Bhubaneswar: Senior leader Shivraj Patil’s soft approach towards NDA government at the Centre and BJD regime in state did not go down well with Congress leaders in the state. Addressing reporters at Congress Bhawan here, Shivraj said the demonetization has taken place, but the government should ensure that the money which came into the bank is not given out to the rich who already owe thousands of crores of rupees to the banks. Although Patil was critical of NDA government for causing hardship to the common man by the cash ban move, he parried a question linked to BJD stand on currency ban issue. When asked how he sees BJD government’s support to demonetization, Patil refused to comment on the matter. On the impact of demonetization on Panchayat polls, he said, “The currency ban will decide who people will vote for.” Patil also skipped answering questions on RBI role in implementation of the cash-ban move.
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