Demonetisation protests across India, but Opposition divided over bandh

Police detain Youth Congress workers during a protest against the demonetisation exercise, in Patna on Sunday. (PTI)

Police detain Youth Congress workers during a protest against the demonetisation exercise, in Patna on Sunday. (PTI)

The Centre’s demonetisation exercise has brought a rarely seen unity among opposition parties in Parliament, but they appear divided over the way they will protest against the measure on Monday.

The Left Front is intent on making its 12-hour West Bengal bandh to protest the scrapping of high-value banknotes a success, while the Trinamool Congress-led state government has vowed to foil it.

The state finance department has issued a circular stating that all employees would be required to attend office on Monday and Tuesday, and exceptions would be made only in case of bereavement, maternity leave, hospitalisation and other ‘genuine reasons’.

However, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, “We oppose bandhs. We will take out a protest march (against demonetisation) on Monday.”

Over 3,000 police personnel would be deployed in the metropolis on Monday to tackle any untoward incident, said Supratim Sarkar, Kolkata police additional commissioner of police (III).

Justifying the shutdown, Left Front chairman Biman Bose has said the strike call was necessary to register protest against demonetisation, which has caused sufferings to the people.

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