Opposition plans nationwide protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the Rajya Sabha may have signified a temporary truce in Parliament but the Opposition on Thursday announced various agitation programmes, including an “All India Protest Day” against demonetisation on November 28.

The CPI(M), the DMK, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have planned rallies and protests over the next week, besides different censures in Parliament.

The CPI(M) has even filed a contempt notice against the PM in the Rajya Sabha for “staying away” from the House and not responding to Opposition queries on demonetisation, even though he was present in the Parliament complex. “I have moved (a notice for) a motion for contempt of House by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notices have been served to Rajya Sabha Secretary General and Chairman of the Upper House in accordance with the rule,” CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said.

“We hope it (the notice) will be taken up. If they do not accept it, then I would like to know under what condition it was not accepted,” Yechury said. “This contempt is not acceptable. We were assured that the PM would come. He did not come for a week. After one week, he came today. He sat and then he left. He did not come back.”

Recalling the debate on the 2G spectrum scam, he said then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sat for two days in the House and after the debate, a JPC was constituted. The CPI(M) is contemplating moving a contempt notice in Lok Sabha too. “We are examining the issue,” CPI(M) MP Mohd Salim said.

Joining the CPI(M), the DMK said it would stage protests outside central government offices in Tamil Nadu during the All India Protest Day on November 28.

“As far as DMK is concerned, massive protest demonstrations will be held outside central government offices in all the districts with the cooperation of the people,” party chief M Karunanidhi said in a statement.

The AAP, which has dubbed demonetisation as a “scam”, said a rally would be organised on December 1 in Meerut, where party chief Arvind Kejriwal would address a public meeting.

In Delhi, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the CPI(M)’s farmers’ wing, held a rally demanding that far loans be waived. The rally was addressed by the party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, along with many AIKS leaders, including its President Amra Ram, General Secretary Hannan Mollah, and social activist Medha Patkar.

The AIKS memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister demanded ₹10 lakh in compensation to the kin of farmers who had committed suicide, implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, an increase in minimum support price, proper implementation of rural job scheme MGNREGA, and interest-free loans to small and marginal farmers.