Nagpur: The Congress protest against demonetization being staged in front of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday turned violent forcing police to resort to mild lathi-charge. The protest demonstration by city Congress was part of nation-wide agitation against demonetization undertaken by the party to highlight the ill-effects of the move and interference of the Centre in the working of RBI.
The Congress workers, during their gherao agitation, raised slogans and tried to enter the RBI building by smashing barricades. The policemen, present in large number at the spot, resorted to mild cane-charge to disperse the rampaging Congress workers. The use of force sparked chaos and in the process some workers and leaders were reportedly received injuries.
The protest was led by top Congress leaders including Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna VikhePatil, former Union Minister Vilas Muttemwar and others.
The lathi-charge also drew sharp reaction from the protesting Congressmen. They demanded immediate suspension of policemen who resorted to the use of force against them. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetization plan was opposed by former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. The Governor had specifically said that such move was not successful in any country. But Modi went ahead with the decision ostensible with an eye on elections in five states,” Prithviraj Chavan charged.
