In Kolkata, RBI Governor Urjit Patel shown black flags
Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel was on Thursday shown black flags at the airport here during a protest by Congress workers against demonetisation.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel was on Thursday shown black flags at the airport here during a protest by Congress workers against demonetisation.
Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) had staged a demonstration outside the RBI office here where Patel was present during the central board meeting of RBI.
Police sources said when the RBI Governor arrived at the N S C Bose airport, Congress workers staged a demonstration and showed him black flags.
They also raised slogans "Urjit Patel go back" and "Urjit Patel hai hai". The security personnel managed to escort the RBI Governor inside the airport.
Earlier, the CPI(M) staged a protest rally on the issue of demonetisation outside the RBI office.
"RBI has lost its independence under the Narendra Modi regime. All decision are being taken and executed by the PMO. We are not demanding a roll back rather we want the time limit for the exchange of old notes be extended," Left Front chairman Biman Bose said.
Left Front Legislative Party (LFLP) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, "We are not against unearthing black money. But in the name of unearthing black money you can't put the common people in deep trouble. We are against this.
"We don't demand a rollback, rather we want that people should be given proper relief so that they don't face any problems. More Rs 500 new notes should be made available in the banks and markets," he said.
TMC MLAs and ministers started a protest rally from state Assembly to the RBI office in BBD Bag area of the city.
"We will continue our protest until the draconian decision of demonetisation is withdrawn. Tomorrow also we will organise a similar protest-rally.
"India is a democracy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can't bulldoze his anti-people decision on the entire country," Power minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay told the rally.
Led by Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim and Chattopadhyay, several top ministers and MLAs carrying placards and black flags shouted slogans against the Modi government.
"A financial emergency has been imposed in the country and the RBI Governor is sitting idle. Under Modi's regime, the RBI has no function. It’s the PMO and PM who are calling the shots. Patel is just a mute spectator. We want to know the role of RBI and what are the steps they are taking. We demand an immediate rollback of the decision," he said.
Irrigation minister Rajib Banerjee, compared Narendra Modi with Hitler and said he was the "worst" prime minister, India ever had.
TMC is one of the most vocal opposition parties against demonetisation since it was announced by the Prime Minister on November 8.
Patel also West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who expressed concern over the hardships faced by people and "political discrimination amongst states".
"The meeting was good," Patel told reporters at the state secretariat after meeting Banerjee.
When asked about the meeting, Banerjee told reporters, "I am satisfied with the meeting (with Patel)".
"I availed the opportunity to express views of the common people of the country who are facing immense hardships (due to demonetisation)... The Prime Minister, Parliament, nothing is available. No one is responding. He (Patel) is a direct man," she said.
(With PTI inputs)