Demonetisation: Lefts' strike fails to throw Bengal out of gear, Mamata's mega march stops Kolkata

During the state-wide general strike, all public transport services, including train, bus, ferry, autorickshaw, taxi and metro rail, were normal in entire West Bengal like other weekdays.

Almost all private and government offices, schools and colleges were open and a good attendance was recorded everywhere.

As a huge police force were deployed across the state to maintain law and order, no such major untoward situation, due to the strike, has been reported so far.

In support of the strike and to observe 'Aakrosh Day' against demonetisation, Left parties held a big rally in Kolkata, where Left Front chairman Biman Basu was present.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday afternoon led a protest march on the same issue, where thousands of party activists and several celebrities were present.

The massive rally, which started from College Square and concluded at downtown Esplanade area, hit central Kolkata's traffic.

After the protest march, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his decision of demonetising 500 and 1000 rupees notes.

"When general people, poor people, employees and traders are crying due to demonetisation, Narendra Modi is sleeping in peace," Mamata Banerjee said.

"In this situation, Modi's big speeches would not work and nobody gives him authority to waste the nation. It seems like, very soon we have to take permission from Modi to walk in a democratic country," Banerjee added.

Mamata Banerjee demanded the BJP-led NDA government to withdraw the decision of scrapping notes.

"Our only demand is- the Central government has to call off its demonetisation, which was implemented without proper planning," TMC supremo said.

Opposing the general strike, called by Left parties, Banerjee said, "Strike is not a solution and it leads to harassment of general people, who were already harassed due to demonetisation."

"I would like to suggest my CPI-M friends to come on road and demonstrate against it, instead of calling strike," she added.

Meanwhile, West Bengal unit of Congress held a protest rally, led by West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, here in Kolkata on Monday on the same issue.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)