​Tirupati: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) women wing activists staged a protest at Gangamma temple in Thathaiahgunta in the city on Saturday condemning Central government’s move to bring gold under income tax net.

The women led by YSRCP general secretary and former MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, braving heavy rain gathered in good number before the temple to stage the protest. In the one hour-long protest, the women raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly denounced the BJP-led NDA government for targeting poor and women. Speaking on the occasion, Karunakar Reddy breathed fire on Modi and dubbed him as anti-poor and anti-women.

“Modi, who dragged the people to the streets with his ill-conceived demonetisation, is now bent upon triggering panic among women folk at large,” he said. The Centre’s move to impose income tax on the gold possessed by the people irrespective of their economic status is against the sentiments of the women and on the deep rooted tradition and belief, he said adding that the reported to move to bring domestic gold holdings under IT scanner triggered a hornet’s nest.

Stating that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley clarification only added more to the confusion on the gold issue among the people, he wanted the PM to intervene immediately and make a declaration to allay fears of the women. Expressing concern over the continuation of the ordeal of the people even three weeks after the demonetisation, he demanded immediate measure to end the cash crunch to provide relief to the people. YSRCP women wing district general secretary Mamata, city president Kusuma Kumar and others also spoke.