Following the death of transporter Prakash Pandey who had consumed pesticide before attending a Janata Milan programme, the Congress has stated that this unfortunate incident was an example of the severe damage caused by demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
On receiving news of Pandey’s demise on Tuesday afternoon, the Pradesh Congress Committee president Pritam Singh reached the private hospital along with a group of party leaders.
They met the bereaved family members at the hospital and later held a condolence meet at the Congress Bhawan. The PCC president alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party governments at the Centre and State are insensitive, adding that the Congress party stands with the family of the late Prakash Pandey in these unfortunate circumstances. Stating that Pandey had lost his life due to demonetisation and GST, he said that the Congress will continue its opposition to these two decisions.
On January 10, the Congress will burn the central and State Governments in effigy at the district headquarters across the state to protest against demonetisation and GST. On January 11, candle marches will be taken out in all the districts to pay homage to Pandey.
Earlier, talking to the media, Singh said that the manner in which Pandey was treated at the BJP State head office after he had consumed poison was also deplorable.
He said that this incident had further exposed the insensitivity of the central and State Governments. Former cabinet minister Dinesh Agrawal, PC vice president Suryakant Dhasmana, Congress Mahanagar president Prithviraj Chauhan and other party leaders were also present in the condolence meet at Congress Bhawan.