By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, JAN 18: In a dramatic turn of event, the Congress protest on demonetisation by the BJP led NDA coalition government of Narendra Modi was marred when TUR and CSWO activists stormed the venue of protest and shouted slogans against the Congress and BJP.
BJP and Congress were accused by the activists of being equally ‘corrupt.’
The Congress leaders and functionaries who gheraod the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Shillong on Wednesday morning were caught off guards when TUR and CSWO activists suddenly appeared at the venue to protest against the protests.
Former Assam Congress minister Rockybul Hussain and former Arunachal Pradesh MP Takam Sanjoy were also present in the venue along with Meghalaya cabinet ministers – Ampareen Lyngdoh, Ronnie V Lyngdoh and senior state party leaders.
The protest turned dramatic when three leaders of the Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) and Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) reached the protest spot shouting, “stop this hypocrisy you are also equally corrupt.”
The activists lambasted the Congress led state government for failing to appoint the Lokayukta and the BJP’s for its failure to implement the Lokpal at the centre.
The placards the activists were carrying read, “BJP-Congress two sides of the same corrupt coin”, “Where is Lokayukta/Lokpal” and“Congress-BJP hand in hand.”.
Congress protestors started shouting loudly as the activists were speaking.
Terming the protest as a mock demonstration, TUR leader Angela Rangad said, “The Congress has refused to appoint the Lokayukta even after the Act was passed in 2014 so did the BJP led central government on the Lokpal, which indicates they are not interested in fighting corruption because they themselves are corrupt regimes.”
“What happen to the education scam, why the minister’s involved is not arrested, what about the housing scam and others,” Rangad questioned adding “This is just a drama an act of hypocrisy.”
Attacking the opposition regional political parties equally, she said what have the opposition parties done on Lokayukta and felt their silence reflects that they are also not interested to fight corruption.
She said the BJP’s decision to implement the demonetisation has affected the common man but the Congress is also equally to be blamed for the hardships to the people in Meghalaya.
CSWO chief Agnes Kharshiing said, “Where were these people (Congress) when the crimes against women and children are rising at an alarming rate in the state.”
The activists also criticised the ministers who had come to the protest venue in their VIP cars saying it is an abuse of power.
Later speaking to reporters, Congress leader and Assam former forest minister Rockybul Hussain said that the party strongly opposes the Narendra Modi government for infringing the autonomy of the RBI.
“The immediate removal of the RBI’s governor for demonetisation and economy anarchy besides restoring the right of the citizens to withdraw money without restrictions are some of our demands in the memorandum submitted to the RBI,” Hussain said.
On the other hand, AICC coordinator in-charge Meghalaya Takam Sanjoy also termed the demonetisation of the Modi led government as uncalled, unwarranted and whimsical.
He said for the first time RBI in the history of the country the prime minister had been infringed in its autonomy.
Sanjoy also demand the Centre come out clear on how much black money and fake currency it has been able to unearth post- demonetisation. He also felt there is no visible impact on curbing terrorism.
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