DMK defers protest against note ban in rain-hit districts

The protests were being deferred in 8 rain-hit districts including Chennai, Tiruvarur and Vellore, says the Congress ally.

DMK working president M.K. Stalin.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday announced deferring its protest against Centre’s note ban in eight rain-hit districts of Tamil Nadu scheduled for November 8.

The DMK, an ally of the Congress, had earlier said it would observe November 8, the first anniversary of demonetisation, as ‘Black Day’ and stage demonstrations in all district headquarters of Tamil Nadu.

The protests were being deferred in the districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore as the party workers were involved in relief activities, a DMK release said.

However, party workers in these districts, besides others where demonstrations would be held, should wear black shirts to show their opposition to the note ban, it said.

Earlier, DMK working president M.K. Stalin had announced that his party workers, wearing black shirts, would observe November 8 as “Karuppu Dhinam” (Black Day) and stage protests.

Eighteen political parties including Congress had earlier decided to hold protests in every state against the NDA government’s decision on note ban, saying it had “caused hardship to the people.”

On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the then high value currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 would cease to exist.