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Nikhila Pant Dhawan
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 19
In view of the 100-day time, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked for to bring the economy of the country on track while introducing the demonetisation drive on November 8, ending yesterday, leaders and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest at Raman Mandi in Talwandi Sabo today.
Hitting at the ‘surgical strike’ launched by the Central government by demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, the protesters asked the government to publically declare the black money recovered during the drive.
Raising slogans against the Central government, the protesters also demanded to know when the black money owned by industrialists and big corporate houses allegedly stashed away in foreign banks would be brought back to India.
“Although the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers may be terming the drive a ‘surgical strike’ on black money and corruption, it was actually a strike on the hard-earned money of the common man. The period of 50 days got over on December 30 and 100 days got over today but the problems being faced by people still continue. Since the demonetisation drive was launched at the peak of wedding season, several weddings were cancelled while others postponed. The cash that families had in hand ahead of weddings suddenly lost value and the parents of brides and grooms had to stand in lines outside banks,” said party leader Neel Garg.
They also derided the government for allegedly allowing the banks to extend huge debt waivers to big corporate houses and willful defaulters and penalising the common man.
They said while the drive should have targeted the big money hoarders, it backfired and caused huge financial problems and losses to small businessmen and traders.
“In a state like Punjab, where agriculture is the main source of livelihood, the farmers were suddenly left with no money to buy seeds and fertilizers,” they added.
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