Protests mark demonetization anniversary in India

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - The opposition parties on Wednesday organized protests and candle-light vigils across India, to mark one year to a government ban on high denomination bank notes -- in an attempt to purge the country of undeclared black money.

The parties, including the Indian National Congress, rejected the government’s demonetization policy observing a ‘Black Day’.

The government, on the other hand, celebrated the anniversary calling it the ‘Anti-black Money Day’.

Last year on this day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised speech scrapped old 500 and 1,000 Indian rupees ($7.75 and $15.45) currency notes.

The 500-rupee note was replaced with a new version, while the 1,000-rupee note disappeared in favor of a larger 2,000-rupee replacement, which the government says will be more difficult to forge.

Following the introduction of this policy, banks were ordered to exchange currency. However, long queues, currency shortages and lack of access to banks for those who did not have national identity cards wreaked chaos in the country.

At least 150 people died in the queues, according to media reports.

The worst-hit were small traders and shopkeepers, who rely on cash for most of their business needs.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said that his party stands with those who were hit by Modi’s “thoughtless act”.

“Demonetization is a tragedy. We stand with millions of honest Indians, whose lives & livelihoods were destroyed by PM's thoughtless act,” said Gandhi in a tweet.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said demonetization was a big scam.

She turned her Twitter profile picture black and tweeted: "I have turned my Twitter DP black #DeMoDisaster. Let us raise our voices #Nov8BlackDay."

The communist parties lashed out at the government saying that for the first time in India's history, a government was "celebrating" death and suffering.

A joint press statement by six left-wing parties said: “The government had set two records -- making people lose their lives in queues and helping hoarders change black money into white.”

Modi called the policy a success.

"I bow to the people of India for steadfastly supporting the several measures taken by the Government to eradicate corruption and black money,” said Modi in a tweet.