Kochi: The UDF MPs and MLAs will stage a sathyagraha before Parliament on December 14 in protest against the cash crunch following demonetisation, the centre’s move to destroy the cooperative sector in the state and the reduction in the ration quota for Kerala. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala told the media after a UDF meeting here on Monday that based on the decision taken at the national level the UDF had withdrawn from a joint struggle with the LDF against the centre’s actions.
Criticising the state government, Mr. Chennithala said it had not taken any step to ease the difficulties caused to the people due to the currency ban and the reduction in ration quota. “The government could not tackle the aftermath of the implementation of the Food Security Act. It also failed to settle the complaints of more than 15 lakh ration card holders in the state,” Mr Chennithala alleged. During the previous UDF meeting, the Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest constituent of the alliance, had insisted on a joint struggle with the LDF despite the strong reservations of PCC president V.M. Sudheeran.
“It is impossible to create a cashless economy in a country where more than 90 per cent of the people depend on currency transaction. Only 47 per cent of the people have bank accounts while more than 300 million don’t even have identity cards. Hence, it is an Utopian idea to introduce plastic money all of a sudden,” he observed. According to him, the country’s economy will face serious issues in the coming days with huge losses in the agriculture production.
