Bhubaneswar: Normal life remained unaffected in most parts of Odisha today despite the 12-hour state-wide protest called by the five Left Parties and the Congress to protest the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.
Vehicular traffic was normal in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and other parts of the State. All the business establishments and private organisations remained open except educational institutions. Government buses and other private vehicles were seen plying on the road.
The protesters staged demonstration at various places. The activists of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) took out a procession from Master Canteen square in Bhubaneswar and demonstrated in front of the office of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Odisha Pradesh Congress President Prasad Harichandan said-"This is an undeclared emergency by the Narendra Modi government. People are suffering a lot due to the decision of the NDA government".
Besides, the activists of the Left parties also held protest rally near Srimandir Singhdwar, Swargadwar and Marine drive in Puri. They demanded withdrawal of decision on note ban. "We demand the people should be allowed to withdraw their money from bank. The demonetisation decision has crippled the life of the common man and farmers. The impact of the demonstration has already fallen on the Modi-government. We will intensify our agitation in future", State CPI secretary Dibakar Nayak said.
He said while the small traders are bearing the brunt, the economy of the country would collapse following the demonetisation move.
The Congress also observed the Akrosh Divas in Cuttack, Balasore, Jeypore, Bolangir, Sambalpur and Rourkela. The Left party members also held separate demonstrations in front of bank branches and other government offices.
Accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation, the Congress on Sunday had said it has not called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ or a countrywide shutdown on Monday but a ‘Jan Akrosh Diwas’ to hold protests against demonetisation.
Likewise, the Maoists also extended support to the country wide demonstration. The Malkangiri division of the outlawed outfit appealed to the people through a press release to support the move against demonetisation. “The Centre has tried to strengthen the corporate houses by gathering the notes of common man in banks”, the release read.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan took a jibe at the BJD-led government for indirectly supporting the demonetisation move. "Initially, they supported demonetisation, but surprisingly the Odisha government has shut down schools and colleges. This is the double standard nature of BJD. I think maybe they (Odisha government) have also been affected by this move", Pradhan said.
The BJD also reacted to Pradhan saying that school and colleges were shut down in apprehension of any law and order situation. "Pradhan should analyse the decision of State to close the school and colleges in law and order aspect. It is a precautionary measures. State government's stand on demonetisation is very clear and it has remained intact", BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said.
So far, there has been no major incident, except a few stray incidents in the districts," a senior police official said.