Thiruvananthapuram: LDF began its day and night agitation against the Centre's alleged move to destroy the co-operative sector in the name of demonetisation. LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan who inaugurated the agitation accused the Centre of destabilising the co-operative sector which is the backbone of rural economy providing succour to the marginalised sections of society. The Centre's move should be resisted and defeated at any cost, he said while appealing the people to rally behind the LDF agitation.
The agitation was held in front of panchayat, municipalities and corporation centres across the state. The LDF also observed black day to protest against Prime Minister’s refusal to meet all-party delegation led by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The delegation was scheduled to meet the prime minister in Delhi on Thursday. Vaikom Viswan said despite people facing innumerable problems following demonetisation, the Centre and the BJP seemed to mocking at them trying to justify the decision.
He called for united protest irrespective of the political and ideological differences, against the move to wreck the cooperative sector which provides relief to the marginalised sections, he added. The entire transactions at the cooperative banks have been frozen following the RBI curbs . Lakhs of people who have deposited their hard earned money are not able to use it for their personal requirements, he said. Viswan said people are running from pillar to post to arrange money for marriages, hospital services and other personal requirements.
Left front calls for state-wide hartal on Monday
The ruling LDF has called for state-wide hartal on November 28 to protest against the Centre's ‘conspiracy’ to destroy state's co-operative sector in the name of demonetisation. The hartal will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm on Monday, LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan said here. On the eve of hartal on November 27, torch light processions will be held at local-levels across the state. Hospitals, milk supply, newspapers, marriages and banks have been exempted from hartal.
The hartal has been called to protest against the ‘vindictive’ attitude of the Centre and the refusal of PM to meet the delegation led by the chief minister. The hartal is part of the nation-wide protest being organised by opposition parties from November 24 to 30. The LDF urged the Centre to allow the demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 for all legal transactions till December 30.
UDF distances itself from hartal
Meanwhile, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran said agitations like hartal which put additional burden on the people should have been avoided. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said even the UDF had discussed the option of haral but decided not to go ahead with it as it would cause serious problems to the people.
However, as part of the nationwide protest of the opposition parties’ UDF MLAs would picket Rajbhavan.
