Ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and Opposition Congress-led UDF today hit out at the Modi government for its decision to use indelible ink to mark customers exchanging defunct currency notes, saying it will only create "panic" and cause "more confusion".
"The Centre is bringing more stringent regulations. What is neededtoday is to simplify the regulations," Finance Minister Thomas Issac said in a Facebook post.
"New notes should be made available through banks and ATMs and the latest decision will create panic," he said.
Issac alleged that the Centre's latest decision will put the poor people and daily wage earners standing in the queue under the shadow of hoarders and black marketers.
Opposition leader in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the BJP government's decision to mark those queueing up before banks to exchange their old notes with indelible ink will only help in creating "more confusion".
"It's not ink, but more notes that are needed. People are running from pillar to post not having enough money even to meet their daily needs," Chennithala said in a statement here.
People have to wait in the queue for hours to exchange their notes, he said, adding that to paint all of them as black marketers was not right.
Meanwhile, activists of CPI and DYFI took out separate marches to the Reserve Bank of India office here protesting against demonetisation of high-value currencies, which they said was causing hardship to people.
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The Vyapari Vyavasaya Ekopana Samithi today decided not to go on an indefinite agitation from tomorrow, taking into consideration the present situation due to currency crunch and the Sabarimala pilgrimage season beginning from tomorrow.
Though the samithi sources said the agitation had been dropped following assurances from the state government and state BJP leaders, BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan denied that any assurance had been given.
The shortage of Rs 50 and Rs 100 notes has hit hard the lottery agents in the state.
With lottery sales taking a nosedive since demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, government today decided to postpone draw of at least 10 lotteries and quashed draw of eight other lotteries.
