Apparently realising that it was losing the protest initiative against demonetisation, Congress called for a meeting of party functionaries, from AICC members to district and lower-level activists, on Wednesday.
The meeting, to be held at Delhi's Talkatora Indoor Stadium, will chalk out the party's strategy to counter what it calls the Narendra Modi government's “anti-people policies”.
Party general secretary C.P. Joshi said that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address the meeting. He is expected to be back from London in a day.
Rahul Gandhi, Joshi recalled, had put forth five demands to the Modi government on the eve of the 50th day after demonetisation. Finding that none of the demands were met, the party has decided to launch agitation programmes.
Joshi claimed that there were protest demonstrations on Friday and Saturday across the country, organised by Congress workers. On Sunday, there will be thali pradarshans (protests by beating on empty plates) by women, Joshi said.
Asked about the delay in spearheading protests, a party leader pointed out that they were waiting for the 50-day period, that the PM had requested, to end. “He had asked for 50 days. As a responsible opposition party, we granted that — at the same time, watching and assessing whether the government was keeping its word.”
