BJP supporters celebrated the first anniversary of demonetisation exercise across the city on Wednesday. Their leaders termed it as an important step against black money and terror funding.
Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, who was the key speaker at an interactive meet organised by BJP district unit for traders at Chamber Bhawan in Bistupur to mark one year of demonetisation, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that some harsh decision will have to be taken for all round development of the country and demonetization was one of such decisions against black money. He also said demonetisation gave a blow to terror funding.
"I am confident that in the days to come the government will be remembered for nation building rather than playing politics," said Munda.
Traders and businessmen in large numbers were present on the occasion. later in the evening, BJP youth wing members distributed sweets at Sakchi party office.
On the other hand, it was a day of protest for the Opposition parties as almost all of them took to dharnas and rally to mark one year of demonetisation exercise.
Over a thousand Congress supporters took out a protest march from Aambagan via Sakchi roundabout which culminated in the form of a dharna at district collectorate.
Regional parties like JMM, JVM , RJD and Trinamul Congress sat on a dharna in front of the district collectorate in Sakchi. While, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters staged a dharna at Bistupur Postal Park.
A Congress leader said that demonetisation had its effect on the poor farmers who were forced to sell their food grains at throwaway prices. The poor and small farmers were unable to take their produce to market and were selling foodgrains and vegetables at throw away prices, he said, adding many dumped tomatoes at roadside.
East Singhbhum district Congress president Bijay Khan said that Demonetisation was a complete failure as more than 86 per cent of the money has gone back to the system but no significant evidence of black money has been established. "Consumer footfall in the markets has been very low compared to normal days".
Congress leader and State Secretary SRA Rizwi Chbban said that rising prices of pulses in the country is a matter of great concern.
He also said that dealers and shopkeepers were indulging in artificial profit-making activities through hoarding or selling products at unreasonable prices but the Government has failed to take action to keep a check. He said that the voters who voted BJP to power are now repenting. The Government has failed to live up to the expectation.