Note ban: Life goes on amidst protests

Leading the agitation in the city, a circumspect Leader of Opposition MK Stalin said that they were only opposing the shoddy implementation of demonetisation by the ruling dispensation. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of waging a ‘war’ against over 80 per cent of innocent citizens by announcing demonetisation. Threatening to intensify their agitations if the Centre does not act immediately to ease the post-demonetisation blues, Stalin wondered if the Union government had at least deposited Rs 15 each in citizens account by recovering black money stashed in overseas tax havens, let alone Rs 15 lakh per head he had promised during 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign.  Congress chief Thirunavukkarasar along with several party leaders were arrested for staging a similar protest in front of the Anna Salai Post office in the city. 

Though the Congress had earlier announced that it would participate in the protest announced by its ally the DMK, it later changed its stand and decided to organise its own agitation in the city, while extending support to the DMK in the rest of the state. He was arrested along with former TNCC chiefs KV Thangkabalu, M Krishnasamy, former MP JM Haroon, former MLA Peter Alphonse and Congress functionaries including Roypuram Mano. Protests were also held in front of the SBI branch in Nungambakkam in which leaders of Left parties, including G Ramakrishnan (CPM), R Mutharasan (CPI), along with the members of VCK took part. 

The Tamil Nadu Traders Federation President Vellaiyan who had earlier called for closure of all the shops, rescinded his decision and instead decided to participate in the protest.  However, normal life remained unaffected in Tamil Nadu as shops, schools, colleges, transport services, private and government organisations functioned as usual, despite the joint call given by the opposition parties on Monday. After a two-day holiday, banks resumed routine functions, though long queues were seen in front of several ATMs. In Coimbatore, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) organized a begging protest, claiming that daily wage labourers were forced to go without jobs over the last few weeks. The cadre also wept when fellow protesters offered alms in banned Rs 500 notes. Meanwhile, in a bid to counter the opposition stir, the BJP launched a signature campaign involving traders in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move.

Unable to withstand pressure and harassment from micro financing firms about 150 villagers from settlements close to Sirumugai thronged the Collectorate, on Monday, seeking time to repay their loans. They made an appeal to the district administration to intervene and help them get a two-month repayment holiday. Vijayalakshmi (38) said they made the representation for the first time last Tuesday, as the 11 micro finance firms were asking them to repay it with new notes. Most of the villagers are weavers working on contract basis. The representation they made to the collector last Tuesday was forwarded to the Coimbatore SP and Sirumugai Police Station. But they said the firms which accepted to give them time have gone back on their word and are now threatening to black list them.

In Chennai city police detained over 3,000 people including 16 MLAs who took part in the demonstrations in various parts of the city. Even as shops remained open and vehicles continued to ply as usual, the daylong bandh and agitation against demonetisation witnessed several protests by political parties in different parts of the city.

Leader of Opposition and DMK treasurer MK Stalin was also among the arrested persons. Besides DMK, several parties including IUML (Indian Union Muslim League), Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI (Communist Party of India), VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) and SUCI (Socialist Unity Centre of India) and Aam Aadmi Party took part in the demonstrations across the city.  Large scale protests took place in five areas across the city including Tambaram and Pallavaram.  A police official said, protests took place in various parts of Tambaram, in which 800 people were detained. The demonstrations were reportedly widespread in the South zone with 2,000 people being detained in these parts. The protestors including women, were taken from the protesting spot and kept in marriage halls and later released in the evening. Around 300 members of the Congress party including 40 women were held for organising a demonstration on Mount Road. The protestors raised slogans against the ruling BJP and slammed PM’s demonetisation efforts as anti-people and short sighted. Meanwhile, over 400 Communist Party of India (CPI) workers were also detained in different parts of the city. However, normal life went on unaffected for citizens and majority of shops remained open.  Banks operated as usual and private organisations functioned without any hindrance. The police said that overall 3,409 agitators were detained, of which 417 were women. No untoward incident was reported and the agitators were kept in nine wedding halls across the city.

Meanwhile in Thanjavur the members of DMK on Monday staged a road block in front of the Thanjavur Old Bus Stand after information of their party treasurer and opposition leader MK Stalin was arrested on Monday in Chennai. Nearly, 150 cadre including seven women were arrested. Traffic was affected for around 30 minutes. Similary the cadre protested the arrest of Stalin in Kumbakkonam. Police held 100 men.