TMC protests in front of Darj banks

HT, 3 Dec 2016, DARJEELING: While pensioners and employees struggled in serpentine queues to withdraw money, the Trinamool Congress staged demonstrations against demonetisation in front of banks here.

The TMC rally passed through all the major thoroughfares of the Hill town. The party demonstrated in front of banks all along the route. Similar rallies were taken out in Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik.

“Around 5% of the country’s population is involved in black marketeering but 95% of the population is suffering due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation. The common man is suffering. We are not against curbing black money but we are against the process in which demonetisation is being clamped. It is being implemented in an unplanned, erratic manner,” said NB Khawas, general secretary, TMC, Darjeeling district committee. The TMC rally raised slogans against Modi and the BJP demanding immediate regularisation in the process. “The economy is all set to crash. We are heading towards a famine. Essentials and specially food are in short supply. People have money in banks but are not being allowed to withdraw their own money. Under such conditions, chances of a famine are very high,” added Khawas.

The TMC has also demanded that wages and salaries in tea gardens be regularised and be paid in cash.

A circular from the Reserve Bank of India to the management of tea gardens has insisted on E- payments. They have further directed the management of tea gardens to open bank accounts for all tea garden daily wage workers and staff to facilitate e-payments.