One year of note ban: Cong observes 'Black Day' in Mysuru

District Congress committee members, including Minister for Public Works H C Mahadevappa, and MLAs on Wednesday, observed 'Black Day', to mark the first anniversary of the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The members, led by Mahadevappa, took out a procession from the Congress party's new office, near the Railway Station, up to the Deputy Commissioner's office. In his address, Mahadevappa said, due to demonetisation, the economic condition of the country has been affected and the GDP has drastically declined.

"The move by the PM has affected the poor and common people badly. Even after a year, the purpose of the demonetisation, as announced by the PM, has not been served," he said.

"Modi should take the responsibility for the death of hundreds of people, who were waiting in queues to exchange currency notes after the demonetisation. The Union government should not take such extreme steps in future," he said.

The members submitted a memorandum, highlighting the problems faced by the people, through the DC. MLAs Vasu and M K Somashekar, MLC R Dharmasena, Mysuru Urban Development Authority Chairman D Dhruvakumar, Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited Chairman H A Venkatesh, Zoo Authority of Karnataka chairperson Mallige Veeresh, district Congress president B J Vijaykumar, and city president R Murthy were present.

Protest at DC's office

Although protests are banned within 100 metres of the DC's office, the Congress workers, led by the minister, entered the office and also, staged the protest at the entrance.

The police personnel, deputed near the office, remained mute spectators to the developments.

Members of Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene condemned the police inaction.

"The police restricted us from entering even the DC office premises. We launched a protest rally from the Gun House Circle up to the DC's office, but, we were restricted to enter the premises. On the other hand, the Congress party workers were allowed up to the entrance of the building," they said.

Similarly, Congress party workers in Chamarajanagar, Mandya, and Hassan took out a protest, opposing the ban of high denomination currency notes last year.

SDPI opposes demonetisation

Members of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) also staged a protest against the ban of currency notes. They alleged that Modi banned the notes to favour the corporate sector.

Popular Front of India (PFI) district president Abdul Latif said Modi cheated the people of the nation.

"Common people are the worst affected. Over 30 lakh people have lost jobs. As many as 2.5 lakh unorganised industries have been closed," he said.

Corporator Sandesh Swamy, SDPI leaders Amjad Khan and Kaleem were present.