Protests in Tura against note ban ‘tragedy’

TURA: Congress Minister Zenith Sangma said on Wednesday demonetisation was the NDA government’s “biggest blunder” and a “tragedy” that affected the common man.
“Demonetisation the biggest blunder of Modi led BJP government and it was instrumental in breaking the backbone of the Indian economy and a reason to render thousands of people jobless. It is a tragedy as millions of honest Indians’ life and livelihood were destroyed by our Prime Minister’s thoughtless act. We demand simple GST and GST below 18 per cent,” the minister, who was leading a protest rally of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress here, said on ‘Black Day’ observed in protest against note ban and “GST plunder”.
The protest rally was also attended by Parliamentary Secretary Noverfield R. Marak, MPYC president Richard M. Marak and Chairman of GHADC Sadiarani Sangma.
Thousands of protesters took to streets carrying placards and shouting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government. The rally started from Congress Bhavan here and took a detour of the city before coming back to the party office.
The protesters paused at Tura Bazar for a brief period where Zenith reminded the trauma faced by people post demonetisation and GST.
Richard condemned the Modi-led government saying demonetisation was done to reduce corruption, recover black money and attack terror funding. “However, none of these happened. In fact, we all know that demonetisation was the biggest scam in the history of India. The only beneficiary of this was BJP,” he added.
The MPYC president alleged that BJP and RSS members purchased properties worth hundreds of crores in the run-up to currency ban. “Kolkata BJP was caught depositing Rs 3 crore in Rs 500/1000 denominations just hours before demonetisation was announced. Modi should come to Meghalaya and learn from Mukul Sangma how to fight terrorism and not make people suffer due to his foolish policies like demonetisation and hastily implemented GST,” Richard said.
As part of the protest, a candlelight vigil was also carried out late in the evening.
The evening programme was attended by Sarifa Rahman, IYC Secretary in charge Meghalaya.
The Congress observed ‘Black Day’ in all the districts of the state.