The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on November 14.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses serious concern at the hardships faced by the ordinary people because of the haphazard manner in which the central government handled its demonitisation decision.

The day-to-day life of every section of the common people has been thrown out of gear because the government had not taken the requisite and appropriate steps in  advance to meet the contingency. Workers are not being paid wages, people are unable to purchase essential commodities, vegetables and medicines, unable to undertake travel etc due to non-availability of cash.

According to the government's own admission, the present chaotic situation will continue for another three to four weeks implying that the people will be subject to sufferings for some more time to come.

The Polit Bureau demands that till alternative arrangements are completed, the validity of the old currency notes should continue.

The Polit Bureau calls upon its units throughout the country to conduct protest actions to force the government to immediately put in place measures to ease the situation.