JAMMU: Unwise and arbitrary style of working by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is damaging every institution of democracy in the country. The unilateral decision taken by Modi on demonetisation without due consultations has caused enormous loss to the nation especially affecting the poor and common man leading to over 120 deaths.
This was stated by JKPCC Chief G.A. Mir while addressing a huge rally of Congress workers from urban and rural areas of Jammu Province here in front of RBI branch.
Lashing out at Prime Minister, Mir said that only poor, peasants, labourers and common man have been forced to faced hardships due to demonetisation while rich and influential have been either benefitted or have no effect contrary to claims of Prime Minister. He said that Modi Government fails to explain to the nation the amount of Black Money exposed or recovered, when about 97 per cent money has been deposited in the banks. “Where the black money has gone?” He asked and said GDP has gone down and daily earners lost jobs and faced hardships. Mir said Congress would take this protest campaign further to the grass root level in the days to come. He said that the State level Convention on this issue would be held in Jammu on 30th January.
All senior functionaries and leaders of the party, legislators, former ministers and former legislators, Districts and Block office bearers, leaders of frontal organizations including Mahila Congress, Youth, NSUI and Seva Dal and contested candidates joined the rally and sit in Dharna for over three hours in front of RBI Office.
The speakers questioned RBI for its surrender on autonomy and succumbing to the undue pressure by Prime Minister and demanded the resignation of RBI Governor and a white paper on the affects and fallout of demonetisation. Sham Lal Sharma lashed out the Modi Government for trying to distort facts and history and mislead the nation about the historical role and contributions of the Congress party. He said that BJP leaders have even insulted the Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi. He said that the Modi Government’s claims with regards to demonetisation have proved false as it has merely proved to be a surgical strike on the poor, farmers, labourers medium and small businessmen who have suffered a lot.
CLP leader N. Rigzin Jora while decrying the autocratic style of functioning of Modi government thereby eroding the authority and autonomy of the democratic and constitutional institutions like RBI, posed serious questions about the decision of demonetisation and its overall impact. Former Minister Raman Bhalla expressed gratitude to all the party workers for extending whole hearted support to make the programme a grand success.
Former Deputy CM Tara Chand, former ministers Mula Ram, Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Jugal Kishore, former President PCC Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed were among those who also addressed the gathering.
Madan Lal Sharma Ex-MP, AICC Observer Aftab Alam, Co-ordinator, Dr. Subash Manglote, Manmohan Katoch, Kanta Bhan, R.S Chib, Ravinder Sharma, Rajnish Sharma, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Manjit Singh, Yogesh Sawhney, Vikram Malhotra, Manmohan Singh, Ch. Shah Mohammad, Hilal Shah, Shah Nawaz Chaudhary, Faqir Nath, Namrata Sharma, Indu Pawar, District Presidents Anil Chopra, Naresh Gupta MLC, Sain Abdul Rashid, Ashok Gupta, besides PCC functionaries, Ex- Legislators, Members joined the protest. Later, a memorandum was submitted to the RBI Governor through senior officer of RBI here raising several questions with regard to the demonetisation.