SHILLONG: The state Congress observed Black Day on Wednesday when the Centre as well as the BJP state leadership celebrated the first anniversary of demonetisation.
State Congress spokesperson and Deputy Chief Minister RC Laloo led the protest on the premises of Congress Bhavan that resonated with anti-Narendra Modi slogans.
Laloo in his speech harped on the “economic disturbances” post demonetisation.
“What happened to the disturbances last year after the November 8 declaration? Is it necessary to have demonetisation?” he said referring to the frenzy that followed the note ban.
“What black money do tribal people have,” he added.
The senior Congress leader mentioned about the number of deaths during the period of demonetisation.
“It has been reported that up to November 15, about 25 people died and till November 18, 33 people died and 100 people died by the end of the year,” Laloo said. The NDA-led central government had to face sharp criticisms from the opposition and the media following the deaths and questions were raised on the veracity of the Modi government’s move.
Lack of preparedness of the Centre to implement the change was another contention.
“Without applying their mind, the government did this thing in a hurry,” the deputy chief minister said.
State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh, while celebrating the note ban’s anniversary, said, “We are marching towards a stable economy.”
Meanwhile, Laloo pointed out that there are people who never keep their black money in cash but in gold and invest in real estate. “There is no ban on gold or real estate. It is not necessary to have demonetisation as we have come back to original position of where we used to be,” he said amid anti-Modi slogans.
One of the protesters’ placards read ‘Not a surgical strike but carpet bombing of common people’ while another said ‘All the pain, no real gain’.
Describing the common man’s plight, Laloo said poor people’s money is being taken away as banks are deducting money every month even from accounts of students because they do not have enough balance.
“After demonetisation banks have started regulating the accounts of keeping minimum amount that they should have. Through banks, the Prime Minister is deducting money, I don’t know what do you call it –corruption or what,” he said.
The state Congress organised a candlelight vigil at Khyndai Lad on Friday evening in memory of those who died after note ban.
Speaking as minister in charge of Food and Civil Supply, Laloo said, “They (the central ministers) have been putting pressure on me that distribution of goods at fair price shops should be in a cashless manner knowing fully well that we don’t have the facilities here.”
“I have not been able to tell them anything and I am not interested to tell them anything because we need the services of the government through the BSNL to make it cashless which is not possible till today,” he added.
However, he maintained that though the state is willing to go for cashless transaction but the availability of facilities posed a hindrance because internet connection is poor even in Shillong.
