Opposition observes 'Black Day' to oppose Demonetisation

New Delhi: The Opposition parties have decided observe 'black day' on Thursday in the Parliament to protest the Demonetisation move of the Centre, exactly one month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement.

The party leaders met in the morning to decide the form of protests for the day.

According to the political sources the Opposition MPs would probably be wearing black wrist bands and gather in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Parliament premises.

What opposition leaders said:

• Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Earlier, the Prime Minister asked for five days, then five weeks and now he wants 50 days. This isn't right as not even 50 per cent of the situation got better in the last one month."
• The Congress vice-president Rahjil Gandhi also attacked the PM and said, "It has devastated the poor, the farmers, the daily wage workers. We want to have a discussion. We want a vote, the government doesn't."
• Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad said, "It's been 30 days since Demonetisation announcement. We won't raise slogans, will observe silent 'black day'.

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What Government stated regarding Black Day:

• Opposing the opposition protest the government said that the day should be remembered for supportinmg the fioght against black money.
• Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Vebnkaiah Naidu said,"This is not a Black Day. This is their Support to Black Money Day."
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government is ready for a discussion in Parliament. "The Opposition is staging the protest only to garner media space. The government is ready for discussion in the House," he said.

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