Mamata Banerjee to hold anti-demonetisation protests in various states

Kolkata: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that she will protest against the demonetisation move on the streets of Delhi on Wednesday.

"I am going to Delhi tomorrow. I will be on the road on Wednesday. If we get invitation, we will also join the protest programme of other parties on November 23. I also request everybody to join our programme, as this is a big fight," Banerjee told media persons.

The Trinamool Congress supremo said she would address a rally in Lucknow on 29 November.

File image of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. PTI

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"I will address one or two meetings in Bihar also on 1 and 2 December. I will also go to Punjab to speak on behalf of the common man," she said.

"Till the time people don't get justice, my movement will continue," Banerjee said.

She said Trinamool units in West Bengal, Tripura, Manipur and Assam and some parts will organise their own protests.

Banerjee has been at the forefront of the protests against the Narendra Modi government's decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

She last Wednesday called on President Pranab Mukherjee, along with leaders of three other parties -- Aam Admi Party, Shiv Sena and the National Conference — seeking his intervention in the issue.

A day later, she addressed a meeting at Azadpur Mandi, the biggest vegetable and fruits wholesale hub in Delhi, jointly with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, giving a 72-hour deadline to the central government to roll-back demonetisation.

On Saturday, Banerjee marched to the Reserve Bank of India office here, called its officials on the road and sought information on the currency situation in the state.

Banerjee's Trinamool has also announced a three-day protest programme in the state beginning Tuesday, when the party would take out a rally in the city. Rallies would be held at the district headquarters and every block of the state for the next two days.

Banerjee said already three parties have joined her protests.

"I am not alone. Three parties are with me. If anybody wants to join us, it's good. But if we have to go it alone, we are okay with that also. But I think everybody (all opposition parties at the national level) will eventually come together."

The Trinamool leader said she has already discussed the matter with Kejriwal.

Asked whether she would have liked Uttar Prsdesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to join her, Banerjee replied: "If he joins me, that'll be great."

To a query about how her Bihar programme would be successful when the state's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has supported demonetisation, Banerjee shot back: "So what? Do you think there is nobody apart from Nitish Kumar there? They (Kumar's Janata Dal-United) have some political compulsions."

The Trinamool supremo said a large number of people from Bihar also work in West Bengal.

"Don't you know how they are suffering? Lots of people from Bihar are involved in the 100-day employment guarantee programme. But they are now forced to go back to their villages (due to shortage of cash)," she said.