Sharad Yadav declares opposition stir against demonetisation, GST

NEW DELHI: Rebel JD(U) member Sharad Yadav announced on Saturday a nationwide protest by the opposition against the BJP-led Centre over demonetisation and the trouble faced by traders after GST rollout.

The announcement came on the eve of a meeting of the JD(U) national council, called by the Yadav faction, and after it staked claim to the party symbol before the Election Commission.

Lashing out at the government over demonetisation and GST rollout, Yadav said both the steps had "devastated the economy, especially small and medium enterprises". Yadav asserted that the next Lok Sabha elections, due in 2019, would be fought on economic issues.

Quoting socialist stalwart Ram Manohar Lohia, he told reporters here that when the government and Parliament were silent, it was "time to make a political impact on the streets".

He dismissed as "eyewash" the changes made by the GST Council on Friday to provide relief to small and medium businesses, saying they were meant to divert people's attention at a time when anger was building up against the government. "...The kind of 'inspector raaj' we see today has not been witnessed before... We (opposition) will soon launch a big nationwide movement," he said.

Claiming that the majority of JD(U) leaders was with faction, Yadav aide Arun Shrivastav said the national council meeting was likely to be attended by 500 to 600 of its 1,045 members.