Opposition parties will observe November 8 as a “black day” in protest against the government’s demonetisation policy, which was announced on the same day last year, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad (pictured above) announced on Tuesday. The Congress leader also criticised the Centre about its implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and the economic slowdown.

“Demonetisation was an ill-conceived and hasty decision of the government,” IANS quoted Azad as saying. “It is unprecedented, perhaps in the entire world, that a government had to alter its policy 135 times within a month.”

The decision was made at a meeting on Monday that was attended by Janata Dal (United) rebel leader Sharad Yadav, Communist Party of India legislator D Raja, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi, Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Mishra and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, The Hindu reported.

Seventeen political parties are planning to hold coordinated nationwide protests starting November 8, The Indian Express reported. Central trade unions plan will organise a three-day protest against the government’s policies and its impact on both organised and unorganised workers.