Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting with farmers, traders and labourers in the city who are agitated over Centre's demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes at Azadpur Mandi, the biggest vegetable and fruits wholesale hub in the city on Thursday.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee will also address the meeting. "I will hold a public meeting at Azadpur Mandi at 11 am. Mamata Banerjee will also address the gathering," Kejriwal tweeted. "People who are facing problems due to demonetisation reach there," he tweeted.
Considered traditional supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the traders' business has been hit by demonetisation process announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 to weed out black money and unaccounted cash.
"Once trader community disowns BJP, the party would never come to power," said a source close to AAP.
"Over a dozen representatives of trade, industry and market associations met the Chief Minister at his residence on Sunday and urged him to intervene on the issue," source said.
The move comes a day after Kejriwal urged President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Centre to withdraw demonetisation move while demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the scrapping of high currency notes.
Political analysts said the day's development in Parliament shows that both Mamta and Arvind are together, but they did not get much support from the Congress and Samajwadi Party over demonetisation.
On Saturday, Kejriwal went on a 'padyatra' to a few markets and trade hubs in the city, including the Azadpur Mandi. However, he also faced some protest at laxmi Nagar and Gandhi Nagar markets from a section of locals as tempers ran high over paucity of cash in banks and ATMs.
Kejriwal himself on Wednesday skipped the Trinamool Congress march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the demonetisation move but he had directed party MP Bhagwant Mann to attend the protest.
Also, he attacked Modi, saying he had 'cheated' the country. "This demonetisation move is the biggest scam of independent India. (Modi) Compelled the starving public to stand in queues after taking money from the rich. Modi ji cheated the country," Kejriwal said in another tweet.
Earlier, Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai - whose department supervises all wholesale markets - held a meeting at his residence on Tuesday to prepare for the rally. Kejriwal had earlier argued that the scheme is only causing hardship to the poor and has hit farmers and traders, who are forced to deal in cash due to the nature of the market and the economy involved.
"Traders have been feeling the pinch of the scheme. Several trade and market associations have approached the AAP seeking intervention. A rally will be the first step in taking the fight for their cause to the street."
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia besides Gopal Rai will attend the event. AAP MlAs will also attend the rally.
Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Modi of receiving bribes as Gujarat Chief Minister and sought a judicial probe. The Delhi Assembly also sought a reversal of the demonetisation move.