Demonetisation: Opposition agitates with shutdown and protest calls

While the Left in Bengal has called for a 12-hour bandh in the state of West Bengal, it has hardly affected life, with offices, schools and transport functioning normally.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest march later in the day.

A shutdown is also observed in Kerala, another state ruled by the Left government, where it is expected to take effect.

The Opposition meanwhile united to take on the government in Parliament.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) party chief Mayawati said: "No improvement in situation even now and so we have taken the action for the benefit of the people. We are not in the bandh but we are against the government way of functioning and so we will protest in our own way."

"We are raising voice inside Parliament and holding press briefings," she said, adding that "still queues are seen before ATMs and banks."

"Bharati bandh has been called by the centre itself through its unplanned action, and not the Opposition," she said.

"The way the centre is functioning on corruption is in haste and without any preparation. We are not against the move to curb black money. The opposition is united on this and in Parliament they are raising voices.

"But the PM is not coming to Parliament to answer, why is he avoiding Parliament?" she asked.

However, the ruling Janata Dal United (JD-U) in Bihar headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar came out in strong support of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre over the issue.

The JD-U not only announced its whole-hearted support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over note ban but also declared to stay away from any agitation or protests against the note ban.