The Left Parties’ sponsored Bharath Bandh in protest against the demonetization of big notes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, evoked partial response in the two Telugu States on Monday. The Left parties’ leaders and activists at several places staged protests across the two States. RTC bus services were normal but at several places business establishments remained shut.
In Hyderabad, the Left Parties organized a protest rally from Sundaraiah Park to Indira Park. A large number ofnLeft leaders and activists took part in the rally. Speaking on the occasion, the Left leaders demanded that the Centre pay Rs 10 lakh ex gratia to the families of those died due to demonetization of big notes. They also demanded that the Centre bring back black money stashed in foreign countries. The Left Parties have exempted banks and emergency services from the bandh.
The TPCC organized a human chain in front of the RBI here extending support to the Left Parties’ Bharath Bandh call. TPCC Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy and other Congress leaders participated in the human chain. Later, Uttam Kumar Reddy and TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti VIkramarka tried to meet the higher officials of RBI but the police foiled their attempts.
In Vijayawada, the Left Parties staged dharnas and organised protest rallies against the demonetisation of big notes. The police arrested CPI State secretary Ramakrishna at the Lenin Center, where the CPI activists staged dharna. On the other hand, the Congress leaders and activists reached the Lenin Centre. The APCC Chief N Raghuveera Reddy participated in the rally.
In Warangal, the BJP and Congress activists entered into heated arguments and jostled with each other when the Congress leaders tried to burn Prime Minister Narendra Modi in effigy. The BJP activists foiled the attempt of the Congress successfully. The police too prevented the protestors from trying to burn Modi’s effigy. In all districts in the two Telugu States, the Left parties and Congress party staged dharnas and protest rallies against the demonetization of big notes. (NSS)