100 Days of Demonetisation:
Citizens March & Protest
February 19, 2022 | 12pm
Mandi House – Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
The 17th of February marks 100 days of demonetization, which has stalled lives, livelihoods and economy bringing in trails of untold misery on the common man on the street and more than hundred recorded deaths. The recent Budget shied from mentioning negative impacts of this autocratic decision to tender notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 illegal that has resulted in sufferings the Government doesn’t see fit to acknowledge or even take responsibility towards. It is business as usual for the ruling dispensation, which is quick to point to positives of this exercise, the common man is distant from.
It is time to take stock of impacts it has had in 100 days and expose the government for its deceit and an agenda towards less-cash (cashless) economy gearing towards increasing digitalization. Was Demonetization really about curbing black money, arresting tax evasion, blocking funding for seditious and extremist activities and counterfeiting currency? Opinions might be divided, but what is unanimously clear is this initial agenda for this mammoth drive surely seems to have run out of steam and what has emerged instead is a greater push for digital economy.
It is with this intent that we have given a call for a ‘CITIZENS’ protest and rally from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on the 19th of February 2017 starting at 2 in the afternoon. The march and the protest is aimed at sending a signal to the Government that it cannot take citizens for a ride basing their claims on fallacies and then changing narratives to suit their tailor-made agenda.
Sir, we have confirmed speakers from political parties to address the gathering at Jantar Mantar, including senior leadership from CPI(M), CPI, AAP, Swaraj India, JDU, and CPI(ML). We are writing to request the senior leadership from Congress to join the People’s Movement on the day and collectively address the citizens on the occasion to send in a powerful message to the Government. This mass protest is aimed at making serious demands from the Government. We, the people of India, affirm to the fundamental rights of ‘Democracy’, ‘Liberty’, ‘Justice’ and ‘Equality’ as provided under the Constitution. We do not need a superhero, who does not act democratically and instead is all about weaving and selling dreams. We need people oriented governance and not corporate driven economic emergency. We reject the economic and political premises of demonetization and affirm that a transparent and accountable government is required to replace the current logic of ‘we know what is good for the people’. We reject in totality the authoritarian drive to push the UID/Aadhar scheme down people’s throats and demand political and judicial intervention to stop the drive immediately. We demand that the government produce a white paper on the impacts of demonetization on people’s lives and livelihoods and compensate for the lives and livelihoods. We demand that the corporate driven ‘cashless’ economy plan be immediately withdrawn.
~ Delhi Solidarity Group
for Citizens’ Protest
