By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 28, 2016 : The 12-hour nationwide protest called by the five Left Parties and the Congress to oppose the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes demonetisation had very little impact in Odisha with minimal disruptions to normal life in the State on Monday.

Vehicular traffic slowed down in the first half but became normal in the twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and other parts of the State. Barring educational institutions, the business establishments and private organisations remained open. Government buses and other private vehicles were seen plying on the road with less frequency, but there were few passangers.

Most political parties staged ‘dharna’ and “rally” instead of a shutdown Trains operated on time. The protesters staged demonstration at various places. The activists of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) took out a procession her and demonstrated in front of the office of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Congress also held similar demonstration in front of the RBI. PCC president Prasad Harichandan and other top leaders took part in the event. “This is an undeclared emergency by the Narendra Modi government. People are suffering a lot due to the decision of the NDA government,” Haichandan said.

PCC spokesperson Sarat Rout claimed that the party had not called for a bandh. “We had only announced to observe it as ‘Akrosh Divas’. It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spread the message of bandh. We protested against ban on Rs 500/1000 notes, which led to nationwide financial crisis.

The Congress also observed the Akrosh Divas in Cuttack, Balasore, Jeypore, Bolangir, Sambalpur and Rourkela. The Left party members also held separate demonstrations in front of bank branches and other government offices.

The Left parties also held protest rally across the state demanding withdrawal of ban on Rs 500/100 currency notes. “We demand the people should be allowed to withdraw their money from bank. The demonetisation decision has crippled the life of the common man and farmers. The impact of the demonstration has already fallen on the Modi-government. We will intensify our agitation in future”, State CPI secretary Dibakar Nayak said.

Ali Kishore Patnaik, CPI-M State Secretary, said the central government should allow people to use the old currency notes so that they do not suffer due to the Centre’s decision. The small traders are bearing the brunt, the economy of the country would collapse following the demonetisation move, he remarked.

The Maoists also extended support to the country wide demonstration. The Malkangiri division of the outlawed outfit appealed to the people through a press release to support the move against demonetisation. “The Centre has tried to strengthen the corporate houses by gathering the notes of common man in banks”, the release read.