New Delhi, Nov 27

Accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation, the Congress on Sunday said it has not called for a 'Bharat bandh' or a countrywide shutdown on Monday but 'Jan Aakrosh Diwas' to hold protests over demonetisation.

"There will be protest rallies; we have not called for a 'Bharat bandh' (shutdown). Misinformation has been spread by the BJP which is ill-informed," said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party has spread the misinformation that the Congress and other opposition parties have called for a 'bandh'. The country is already shut from November 9, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation move. That's why we don't want a 'Bharat bandh'," he added.

Addressing a rally in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while he had called for an end to corruption and black money, the opposition was rooting for the 'Bharat bandh'.

"The government is working to end the flow of black money and corruption but they (opposition) are talking about Bharat bandh (shutdown)," Modi said.

'Bharat Bandh' has already failed: Vijay Goel

 A Union minister on Sunday led a "Janta Ka March" here to generate awareness among masses about the demonetisation move of the government and to counter "rumour mongering" and "negative propaganda" by the opposition parties.

Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel led the "padyatra" (march) and visited each shop along the way to generate awareness among the business community about the digital modes of transaction and payment.

"All trade unions have hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move and declared that they would keep their shops open and pay no heed to the opposition's demand for 'Bharat Bandh' on November 28. The so-called Bharat Bandh has already failed," said Goel.

Interacting with the media, the minister said: "One man is determined to clean the nation and make it free from black money and corruption, but some parties and their leaders with vested interests are hell-bent to safeguard the corrupt and create problems for the government."

Goel added that there will be more marches to generate awareness among the ma