Agartala: Normal life was hit in Left-ruled Tripura on Monday in response to a dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest against demonetisation and press for the use of the old high-value notes till the situation became normal.
The bandh evoked a good response in the state with schools, colleges and shops remaining closed and vehicles staying off the roads. However, banks were open as they were out of the purview of the bandh.
There was no untoward incident in any part of the state till noon, police said. Opposition Congress, which is opposing the bandh, was observing ‘Akrosh Diwas’ in the state by organising rallies and processions.
“We are against demonetisation because it is inconveniencing people but we are against the bandh because it also causes inconveniences,” Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President and MLA Birajit Sinha said.
Tripura unit of Trinamul Congress (TMC) also opposed the bandh on the same grounds. “We are against demonetisation but do not support the bandh because it spoils work culture and also causes monetary loss of common people,” TMC spokesperson Asish Saha told reporters.
The Tripura unit of BJP was also opposed to the bandh. President of Tripura unit of BJP Biplab Deb said, “Political parties supporting black money have called the bandh”.
Meanwhile in Nagaland, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) organised the protest rally in Dimapur, the commercial hub of the state, while all the District Congress Committees (DCCs) held rallies in the respective district headquarters.
Congress also launched poster campaign and submitted memorandum to the President Pranab Mukherjee demanding among others monetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes till such time the new notes were sufficiently inducted. (PTI)
