Demonetisation: UDF stages dharna in Delhi

New Delhi: The United Democratic Front (UDF) organized a dharna at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday in protest against the Narendra Modi Government’s “short-sighted” demonetisation policy, the short shrift given to the cooperative sector in handling demonetised currency notes and the disruption of Kerala’s universal rationing.

Senor Congress leader and the party’s Working Committee member A.K. Antony, who inaugurated the dharna, termed the demonetisation the biggest disaster in the country.

“The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have committed a mistake. The people in the country will not forgive them until they correct the mistake,” Antony said adding that the UDF would go ahead with its protests until the Central government corrects its mistakes.

Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who led the dharna, said the people have become frustrated as most of the ATMs in the country are empty. “Irate people create ruckus at banks. Kerala is badly affected by the demonetisation policy. Even the migrant workers have started leaving Kerala,” Chennithala said.

All the frontline leaders of various UDF allies participated in the programme. After the sit-in, a UDF delegation will meet Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.