To mark the first anniversary of demonitisation, Opposition parties have decided to observe November 8 as ''black day.'.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, addressing a joint press conference with Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien and JD(U) rebel Sharad Yadav, said, "Possibly this is the first time that a decision announced by the Prime Minister had to be changed 135 times. It just shows how ill-conceived it was."
Mr. Azad, who coordinated with other Opposition parties, claimed that 18 parties were on board. "In their respective States, they will be protesting in their own way," he said.
A 'big scam'
Mr. O’Brien described the note ban as a "big scam". His party would observe the 'black day' in West Bengal. "My leader Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to have pointed this out," he said.
On Monday, Opposition parties formed a coordination committee and met for the first time in Parliament. Apart from Mr. Azad, Mr. O Brien, Mr. Yadav, the coordination committee meeting was attended by CPI MP D. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, and BSP's Satish Mishra.
On Monday, Mr. Mishra informed the meeting that BSP chief Mayawati would kickstart her anti-note ban campaign with a rally at Azamgarh the following day. There would be 13 rallies in all.
Left plan
Mr. Raja, who represented the Left parties in Monday's meeting, said the Left had planned a series of protest actions starting from the last week of October.
Beginning November 8, for three days central trade unions plan to demonstrate against the Modi government's economic policies and its impact on both organised and unorganised workers.
"The coordination committee will meet again just before the Parliament session," said Mr. O Brien.
On November 8, 2016, the Union government made announced that all existing Rs 500 and Rs. 1000 currency would cease to be legal tender. The government announced that new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes would be issued on exchange of old notes.
