In a bid to symbolically protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK), tied a rope on an effigy, as if to hang the PM. In this regard, the city police have arrested the protestors. The protests were hosted before the Coimbatore collectorate this morning.
Members of the TPDK gathered in huge numbers, in a bid to condemn the non-availability of cash in banks and ATMs. One of the protestors alleged that despite waiting in queues, at the banks and ATMs to draw money, they are not able to do so as there is insufficient cash in circulation. Post the ban on high value currency, the public is facing hardships to exchange their old currency for the new ones due to lack of sufficient new currency notes.
Another protestor also stated that “The Prime Minister had announced that if the problem of currency is not solved in fifty days you can hang me. As this problem is not solved, even after fiftty days and as no efforts are being made by the central government to solve the issue, we members of TPDK party today have hosted this protest.”
“90 percent of ATMs are closed. Money is not available in the ATMs which remain open. People are suffering all over the country due to non availability of cash as money is not available at the banks too. The central government is coming out with a new rules and regulations on daily basis without caring for the people.”
“So far more than 60 people have died when waiting in the queue to draw cash from ATMs and banks. Trade and businesses too has been severely impacted due to the non-availability of cash. We are sending the rope to remind the prime minister about his statement that I will hang, if the problem is not solved in fifty days.” said the protestors.
Police arrested the people who tried to send the rope to the prime minister. Following this protest and the arrests made, this area remained tense.