New Delhi: The Congress may observe November 8 as the ‘National Tragedy Day’ in order to register party’s strong resistance to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his demonetisation move and also to express solidarity with near and dear ones who gave away or lost lives due to note-ban. “Several state units have suggested this informally.....The party will formalise its views sooner.
But state units can go ahead with the move if they desire,” a party source said here on Saturday. Sources said a final decision on this will be taken soon by examining various pros and cons and after consultation with senior leaders in various states.
It was on November 8, 2016, PM Modi in a national broadcast over Doordarshan and All India Radio announced his government’s decision to ban high denomination Rs 1000 and old Rs 500 notes. “The decision has brought in economic disaster. And in many parts of the country, people committed suicide and also died untimely deaths due to government’s most disastrous economic policy decision in recent times,” added the source. So far suggestions have come states like Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to organise a nationwide protest on November 8, sources said.
The Congress had earlier alleged that about 150 people died untimely deaths due to note-ban and related developments. Several people also had committed suicide, the party has alleged. “The SME businesses suffered a huge loss. So was the case with operations like running of bangles units in Uttar Pradesh. The textile and other sectors too were affected,” the source said. The Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had called it a "colossal failure".
The demonetisation decision was also slammed by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, whose brief intervention in the Rajya Sabha had even irked Prime Minister. While Dr Singh has said the note-ban would result in two per cent drop in GDP, a few days later Mr Modi used the now infamous ‘raincoat jibe’ to take on Manmohan Singh. (UNI)