Congress workers protest outside Amit Shah’s house in Ahmedabad, detained

Ahmedabad: Congress workers today gheraoed the residence of BJP president Amit Shah here, protesting the Centre’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, prompting the police to briefly detain 70 of them.

A large number of Congress workers gathered outside Shah’s old house in Naranpura locality, which is now used as his office as he has shifted to a new house, and shouted slogans against him.

They even tried to burn the BJP president’s effigy but were stopped by the police who were deployed in large number.

“Farmers are not getting money from cooperative banks, people are facing difficulties withdrawing their own money from banks and ATMs, and on the other hand, black money holders are exchanging their money by paying 30 per cent commission. We have come here to ask Shah to give us our money,” said Gujarat Congress vice president Jitu Patel.

“I have come with a bank cheque, to ask Amit Shah to exchange it for cash. I have stood in the queue for hours after which the bank says there is no money. Want to ask Mr Shah how will I get my own money,” said Rita Shah, a Congress worker.

Naranpura police said 70 Congress workers were detained for around two hours and then let off.

PTI