Demonetisation not an issue in Agra, Firozabad; BJP makes impressive win

AGRA: Despite losing their jobs after industries shut down due to cash crunch following demonetisation, industrial workers from Agra and Firozabad factories voted for BJP in the hope that a party, which is fighting corruption in a big way, will bring better days for them. The party won seven constituencies of the nine in Agra district and four of the five seats in Firozabad, putting to rest assumptions that these voters are angry with Modi over notebandi.
Hundreds of glass, bangle, footwear and petha units were forced to shut down after the currency shortage, rendering tens of thousands of workers unemployed.Many workers believed the decision to demonetise high value notes was done to eliminate corruption and arrest those who had amassed wealth through illegal means. Babu Ram Nishankh, 82, leader of a workers’ association at one of Firozabad's bangle industries, said, “Prime minister Narendra Modi’s policy on notebandi struck a chord with workers who saw it as a move to bring equality among all sections of society. Despite facing criticism from his detractors, Modi kept speaking in favour of the poor during his rallies and this has borne results. People have reposed their faith in him and are hopeful that better days lie ahead for them.”
According to latest reports, 90 out of 100 bangle factories had downed their shutters because of the cash crunch, and more than 1.35 lakh labourers were out of jobs since the demonetisation was announced in November last year. Workers, however, appear confident that if they can throw SP and BSP out of power in the state, they can also show the door to BJP if the party failed to fulfill its promises. “No doubt, there was anger against notebandi among workers. Things, however, improved later and the poor people were able to get their jobs back,” Nishankh added.
Airing similar sentiments, Puttu Singh, former state vice-president of Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said, “People have voted for change, thinking that a new government will work towards their betterment. Workers think if Modi ji can take a major decision to curb black money, it would not be too difficult for the PM to implement stringent labour laws in the industrial sector. Post-demonetisation, efforts are being made to open bank accounts of workers so that their wages go directly to these accounts.”
Puran Dawar, president of Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chamber (AFMEC), said, “The election results have proved beyond doubt that demonetisation had no negative impact on people’s minds. People from all strata of life came forward to vote for PM Modi not only in UP but in other states as well. Demonetisation was a revolutionary step by the central government to purge the system of corruption.”
Rajesh Aggarwal, secretary of Noori Darwaza Petha Union, said, “No doubt that our sector was badly hit by notebandi and workers had to sit idle at home, but it was a temporary phase. Today, things are back to normal. Workers saw voting for BJP as an attempt at indicting the corrupt.”