‘PM Modi ruined Gurpurb festivity’

Bathinda: Empathising with people struggling to cope with severe cash shortage in the aftermath of the Centre’s demonetisation move, PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday stopped by at a branch of the State Bank of Patiala while on his way to Abohar. He claimed that Modi had ruied the mood of the people ahead of Gurpurb as people were left with little cash to celebrate the sacred occasion. He said: “Gurpurb is a huge festival for us, and yet, for no fault of ours, we have been deprived of money to celebrate it.” TNS

Mamata speaks to President on demonetisation issue

Kolkata, November 13

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday spoke to President Pranab Mukherjee over the Centre’s demonetisation move and said representatives of political parties will meet him next week over the issue.“The Hon President was kind enough to take my call. I briefed him about how common people are suffering because of demonetisation,” Banerjee tweeted today.“I thank him for agreeing to meet reps of political parties on Nov 16 or 17 where we will brief him in detail on the grim situation,” she wrote in the microblogging site.Upping the ante against BJP, Banerjee yesterday had said she is not averse to working with arch rival CPI(M) and other opposition parties like Congress, SP, BSP to fight against the “anti-people” Modi government which has imposed an “undeclared emergency”.Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of conducting a “surgical strike on the common people” in the name of unearthing black money, she had said the demonetisation move was taken without proper planning causing immense hardship. — PTI

On note ban, PM gets emotional, says will put things in order in 50 days

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 13Prime Minister Narendra Modi almost choked up while speaking about his government’s demonetisation plan that has seen some of the fiercest attack from the Opposition parties. However, in an equally scathing counter, he on Sunday asserted that threats to his life would not make him back down on the decision.The emotional appeal asking the people to stand by him for just 50 days came while speaking at the foundation stone laying of Mopa Greenfield airport in Goa. The Prime Minister said he empathised and felt the pain and hardships of the common man following the step aimed at eradicating black money in the country.

“Yes I also feel the pain. These steps taken were not a display of arrogance. I have seen poverty and understand the people’s problems. I was not born to sit on a chair of high office,” he said making an emotional appeal. While the sudden move has seen widespread support, it seems to be now eroding following the continued hardships. Not just the queues at the banks and the ATMs, there are now reports of essentials selling at higher prices, adding to the common man’s woes.“Whatever I had, my family, my home… I left all of it for the nation,” the PM said, almost choking up amid an appreciative applause from the crowd. And then launching a direct attack against the Opposition, he said that “they” might think they could stop him by creating hurdles but he would not stop in his fight against corruption “even if he was finished”“I know they are against me. They may not let me live. They may finish me, because their loot of 70 years is in trouble. But I am prepared,” he declared asking people to stand by him for just 50 days to put the things in orderThe people had high expectations from his government given the strong mandate in 2014, he said, promising to continue the fight against corruption. “Those who want to do politics can do so. Those who have robbed us are now accusing us. I just want my honest citizens to stay patient for 50 days,” he saidThe demonetisation process started 10 months ago and was a part of series of steps to eardicate corruption and black money from the country, he said. “Punish me if I do not deliver,” he added.”This is not an end. I have more projects in mind to make India corruption-free… Cooperate with me and help me for 50 days and I will give you the India you desired,” Modi said after laying the foundation stone of Mopa greenfield airport and launching work on electronic city project in Goa.”We will take action against ‘benami’ property; This is major step to eradicate corruption and black money… If any money that was looted in India and has left Indian shores, it is our duty to find out about it,” he said.

Petrol sold for Rs 300 a litre in Manipur

Imphal, November 13

A litre of petrol on Sunday was selling for Rs 300 in Manipur due to the indefinite economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) against the creation two new districts.

Since the blockade, all petrol vends across Manipur has gone bone dry.

Meanwhile, a move was being made to escort the Manipur-bound loaded trucks and oil tankers stranded at different places in Assam.

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When the Manipur government chose to ignore the 48-hour UNC sponsored general strike and the subsequent blockade, the Naga organisations decided to intensify the agitations.

They turned a deaf ear to the orchestrated appeals from diverse sections to withdraw the blockade.

Chief secretary Oinam Nabakishore said, “Some NGOs should not resort to blockade. We appeal to them to call off the blockade.”  When there was no response, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said, “Armed policemen are detailed to escort the stranded trucks and oil tankers.”  Most of them have been parked along the highway since November 1.

One truck loaded with cement was torched on the highway on Saturday night.

Women activists have banned transportation of various items from Imphal to Naga dominated areas of the state.

Petrol diesel, kerosene and LPG cylinders are no longer available in Manipur.

Prices of essential commodities have soared beyond the reach of the people. Many consumer items have vanished from the market.

People from Jiribam and Sadar Hills areas are exerting pressure on the government to create the new districts. This has led to the agitation.

—IANS

Be patient for 50 days: Modi

Chokes up while talking of his ‘sacrifices’; says ‘they may not let me live’

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made an impassioned plea for 50 days’ cooperation in his attempt to make India corruption-free.Empathising with the “honest” common people on hardships they were facing following his demonetisation move, he almost choked up while talking about the “sacrifices” he made for the country.However, his emotionally surcharged speech and stern warnings to the “corrupt” at Goa and Belgaum failed to impress the Opposition.Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, whose party Modi appeared to be targeting when he talked of eradicating “70 years of corruption”, tweeted: “First laughter now tears! Mediocrity comes face to face with reality.”Taking on the Congress directly, Modi said: “I know what kind of powers I have taken on. I know the kind of people who will be against me now. I am looting what they had accumulated over 70 years.”He also warned of more action against the corrupt, including those holding “benami” money and property. “I have more projects in mind to make India corruption-free. Cooperate with me and help me for 50 days and I will give you the India you desired,” the PM said in Goa.In Belgaum, he said his “government would not spare the guilty. There is pain but what is more important is the gain for the country”.The PM’s primary aim was to reach out to people and assuage some of the growing impatience due to the fallout of his decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. “Yes, I also feel the pain. These steps taken were not a display of arrogance. I have seen poverty and understand people’s problems. I was not born to sit on a chair of high office,” he said.“Whatever I had, my family, my home… I left all of it for the nation,” he said, choking up. “I know they are against me. They may not let me live. They may finish me because their loot of 70 years is in trouble. But I am prepared,” he declared.

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New Rs 500 note at SBI head office in New Delhi on Sunday. PTINew Delhi:  The Centre on Sunday night raised the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 note exchange limit at bank counters to Rs 4,500 from Rs 4,000 and withdrawal at ATMs to Rs 2,500 from Rs 2,000.  Now, Rs 24,000 per week can be withdrawan from banks, up from Rs 20,000 and the daily withdrawal limit of Rs10,000 has been removed.The Ministry of Finance also advised banks to increase the Business Correspondents’ limit to Rs 2,500 for withdrawal from accounts.The Centre had initially placed a cap on ATM withdrawal at Rs 2,000, from accounts at Rs 10,000 per day with a weekly limit of Rs 20,000 and exchange of currency at Rs 4,000, Banks have been advised to make arrangements for separate queues for senior citizens and Divyang persons. The last date of submission of annual life certificate for government pensioners has also been extended to January 15, 2017 instead of November-end.Separate queues will also be arranged for exchange of cash-to-cash transactions.Banks have been advised to increase the issuance of mobile wallets and debit or credit cards as also to provide them to those not having access. On reports that  hospitals, caterers, tent houses and others are not accepting cheques, demand drafts or online payment, the government advised the people to complain to the District Magistrate or authorities concerned in this regard. — TNS

Some in BJP fear it may turn self-goal

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 13

With the patience of common man thinning and Opposition’ attack getting fiercer, and more personal, there is now a certain degree of unease within the BJP over political fall-out of the much-celebrated and appreciated demonetisation move.BJP chief Amit Shah may have been effectively able to counter allegations of political foes like Mayawati (BSP), Rahul Gandhi (Congress), the Samajwadi Party and Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) with questions on their “intent”, but it seems there are worries over negative perceptions created due to continued travails and hardships of the common man.Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-black money move is all set create a storm in Parliament by an “unimpressed” Opposition, which the BJP leadership is clearly not worried about. BJP leaders are in fact “looking forward to it” to expose the “corrupt” Opposition parties.What they seem to be worried about is eroding of a certain degree of support and goodwill the PM’s move initially earned because of “growing doubts” about the government’s “unpreparedness to handle the situation”.All fingers are crossed for continued cooperation from the people, and that the move does not end up as a “self goal” for the party.The Prime Minister is keeping a “close watch on the ground situation”, BJP leaders say, assuring that the situation will normalise soon. His three public appearances in the past two days are all aimed at connecting directly with the people, they add.Significantly, many BJP leaders, in private, agree that the decision could perhaps have been executed in a “more refined” manner to ensure lesser problems to the people.Given the current chaos, including certain reports of “photocopies” of Rs 2,000 currency being passed on to unsuspecting people, they agree that instead of issuing a cumbersome high-denomination note, the demonetisation planners should perhaps have thought of introducing smaller denomination notes.”Perhaps the new currency could have been designed in a way that did not require reconfiguration of ATMs,” they argue.

First laughter, now tears: Rahul on PM’s speeches

• New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, posting two videos of the latter’s speech on his official Twitter account. “First laughter now tears! Mediocrity comes face to face with reality,” Gandhi wrote along with a clipping of Modi’s speech in Goa. Modi, who broke down during his speech in Goa, said his dramatic decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had placed him in the crosshairs of what he said were “vested interests”, but vowed to end black money and corruption with more projects. — IANS

DEMONETISATION

Chaos swells, patience thins

Bank staff targeted at a few places as no end to serpentine queues outside banks, ATMs

New Delhi, November 13

Appeals by Prime Minister and finance minister notwithstanding, frustration and anger among citizens to get their share of valid notes for meeting daily needs swelled as banks tripped with non-functional ATMs and cash running out of branches at many places.Unprecedented rush at bank branches was seen all over the country, with people jostling to get new cash today itself because of a holiday in many parts of the country on Monday. However, despite standing in queues for hours, many had to return empty handed due to cash shortage.Much to people’s dismay, most ATMs remained out of cash on the third consecutive day after they reopened on November 11. People in distress started queuing up before the branches across the country right from the day-break itself and the wait to get cash got even longer today. Women and the elderly were the worst sufferers.“I was compelled to go to the bank as I had very little cash, but a huge, frightening queue at the branch sent chills down my spine. But I could gather courage to even stand in the queue,” said Suniti Gupta, an elderly woman from Kanpur.Such tales became quite common. Many people are forgoing their day’s wage to get cash from the branches as daily wagers are almost broke since Rs 500/1,000 notes are not valid currency since Tuesday midnight.

Clash at UP bank

In Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh, angry people clashed with bank employees and threw stones at the branch at Sujru village, leaving three persons, including a woman, injured.The police said as the branch ran out of new notes, the people who had gathered there in large numbers clashed with bank employees. Over a hundred people have been booked in connection with the incident.In the national capital, people continued to face hardship as they queued up in large numbers outside banks and ATMs to get cash to meet their daily need.

Arguments outside ATMs

Heated arguments were exchanged as cash in ATMs and banks ran dry as the day drew to an end. Security was beefed up outside bank branches, after there were rumours about stampede, people plundering goods from a mall in Seelampur yesterday. “Since it’s a Sunday, we expected more crowds outside banks and ATMs. We made adequate security arrangements to ensure no untoward incident occurs,” said a senior police official.

Paramilitary deployed

To manage anxious crowds, 3,400 personnel of paramilitary and Delhi Police along with 200 quick reaction teams have been deployed at ATMs and banks. At many places, people were seen running from one ATM to other as the machines ran out of cash.Long, snaking queues continued to be seen outside banks and ATMs in Mumbai with those facing cash paucity complaining about having to wait for hours as the bank branches themselves were running short of currency notes. Longer queues were seen outside public sector banks where a sizeable number of account holders are retired persons and senior citizens. There was increased anxiety among some customers as the bank staff took longer time to process their cash request.Some people with accounts in cooperative banks in Maharashtra complained that they took longer time to get their money exchanged from such banks because of the cash crunch. — PTI

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Jail those with Swiss bank accounts“Ever since this order has come, there is panic in every household… Instead, jail those with illegal Swiss bank accounts” — Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM

People must cooperate

“I urge people to cooperate with the government to clean up the system. When there is a war, soldiers face many hardships and starve for weeks” —— Ramdev, yoga guruNo right to hurt people “It is good if PM Modi had left his home and family for the country. But this does not mean that he acts against public interest and hurts the common people”  — Mayawati, BSP chief

Probe prior deals

“They (the BJP) had informed their people about the move. A list needs to be drawn about all transactions done prior to the announcement” —Anand Sharma, cong leader

Rajnath, Jaitley review situation

• New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday took stock of the prevailing situation in the country in the wake of demonetisation. In an hour-long meeting, the two ministers were briefed about the situation in different states where heavy rush was witnessed in banks and ATMs to change old notes and withdraw cash. The Home Ministry has deputed three officials to be in touch with state governments to ensure security of banks, ATMs and cash transporting vehicles.

A test of patience

Inconvenience and anger, but mostly approval

The Prime Minister’s announcement of on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has generally been received cheerfully but not many had braced themselves for inconveniences unfolding day after day since the “surgical strike” on black money. The need for usable currency for day-to-day needs keeps asserting itself. The sudden withdrawal of some 85 per cent of the currency has created problems, some perhaps avoidable, which have invited the political attention of Rahul Gandhi as well as Arvind Kejriwal. Political rhetoric is expected in such situations. By and large, people are facing difficulties with patience without breaking into protests. The banks have been called upon to undertake this gigantic task at a short notice and the employees have risen to the occasion uncomplainingly. But seeing long queues outside banks, it is only natural to wonder if the government could have been more efficient in handling the currency switchover. Many ATMs are dispensing hundred rupee notes and machines, it seems, have not been calibrated to handle the new currency notes. Over the years, banks have replaced human tellers with ATMs and this is creating difficulties now. People, too, have been less than prudent in making their demands on the banks by insisting on depositing demonetised notes into their accounts well before the end-of-the-year deadline. Small businesses, especially those that deal with perishable goods like milk and vegetables, have been badly hit. So are service providers such as barbers, rickshaw-pullers and daily-wage labourers dependent on day-to-day cash earnings, which have dried up. They are the ones who feel the real pain of the move. The rural areas, ill-served by banks and ATMs, are facing the brunt of the shortage of cash for their daily needs. Even as people feel a sense of vindication at the government’s blow to the big hoarders of cash, they are becoming acutely aware that not everyone has been equally affected. Easy cash availability and plastic money have rescued the urban well-off from dal-roti worries. Left to fend for themselves, villagers have been denied easy-to-access cash-exchange facilities. Some are frequently at a disadvantage, while others have means to bail them out of crisis situations.

TATE OF AFFAIRS RAJASTHAN

Demonetisation hits life, politics, trade alike

Yash Goyal (Rajasthan)

Rajasthan, like other states, is bearing the brunt of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes in all sectors. The common man, controlling his anger in the name of ‘Rashtrahit’ (national interest), is queuing up every morning at banks and ATMs to get the much-needed cash.Despite an emergency-like situation, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, her Cabinet colleagues and even Governor Kalyan Singh are hailing Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s decision as a landmark step in the post-Independence history to curb black money.Raje’s tentative plan of Cabinet expansion, the state BJP’s organisational makeover, and the Opposition’s strategy to challenge the saffron government’s third anniversary next month are all hanging in balance due to chaos over demonetisation. Apprehending IT and taxation wings’ raids after rumours of selling gold against black money, jem and jewellery trade in Rajasthan had come down from Rs 25 crore to Rs 25 lakh daily, Saraf Traders’ Committee president Kailash Mittal said. Foreigners on tourism are also feeling the pinch due to the cash limit and non-availability of exchange.Punjab polls Gehlot’s litmus testLike the BJP, which put patriarch LK Advani and MM Joshi on sidelines after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, the Congress also faces a peculiar and unpredictable process of phasing out senior leaders from their own state by assigning them political jobs either in other states or at the national level.The Rajasthan Congress’ history reveals that former party leaders Nathuram Mirdha, Ramniwas Mirdha, Seesh Ram Ola, Natwar Singh, Kamla Beniwal, Pandit Nawal Kishore Sharma, Girija Vyas, CP Joshi and Mohan Prakash were eliminated from local politics and given important posts, ministerial berths, gubernatorial responsibility or election assignments.Those who were taken out of Rajasthan for the party work were mostly Jats and a few pundits, so as to avoid their interference in the government formation when the party had come to power in the past. There has always been a demand in both the Congress and BJP for Chief Minister from a Jat community but it has been neglected.Sources in the Congress believe that two-time former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s assignment as chairman of the Screening Committee for Punjab poll is an indication towards phasing him out ahead of the Assembly elections in 2018.This is also because PCC president Sachin Pilot (who is non-Jat) has been hitting every constituency with overwhelming response of party workers and leaders of all castes. In past rallies, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, had also showed his inclination towards Pilot to lead in the state as he revived the party with better scoring of vote share in the Assembly bypolls, panchayati raj and civic elections. Gehlot’s performance in Punjab polls falling early next year would be a litmus test for him whether he would be given some other assignments or kept somewhere else, sources indicated.Event after event delays Cabinet expansionRaje’s Cabinet expansion and formation of a new state BJP executive have been put on hold for the past two months due to Chikungunya afflicting the Chief Minister, Diwali festivities, permission from the Sangh Pariwar and recently concluded agriculture meet. With BJP national joint general secretary V Satish’s scheduled stay third time till November 16 in Jaipur, there are possibilities of a Cabinet reshuffle and organisational changeover now, party sources hinted.Cong leaders uneasy over ‘dalbadlu Jats’Two BJP Jat leaders, former Union Minister Subhash Maharia and Dr Hari Singh, shifting their allegiance to the Congress has not only caused ripples in the party’s Sikar-Jhunjhunu belt of the Jat community, but has also warned the ruling Raje government to review and keep its flock intact.Congress leaders Mahadev Singh Khandela, Chandrabhan and Bajrang Singh Kankorlia have told the party high command that “dalbadlu Jats” would not be a good preposition and left a bad message, even thouh the Pilot’s group has favoured the joining of the two leaders.BJP MP Sona Ram, Jat leader who had defeated Jaswant Singh (Independent) from Barmer, said,” The Raje government has given ministerial portfolios to five Rajputs, what Jat MLAs and MPs have got? Difficult to tame Jat flocks… the elected Jat community is annoyed as Rajput community ministers are dominating the ruling party….recent example is of Raj Mahal Palace controversy where the government bowed down. I have apprised Raje of this who is my only leader”.

Meena alias Mina controversy

On continuing insistence, the government has withdrawn two controversial notifications of 2014 by which it had differentiated between “Meena and Mina” terms (spelling mistake) for reservation to the community as a Scheduled Tribe which challenged it in the High Court last year. Not satisfied with this, NPP president Kirorilal Meena demanded that the Centre should also issue similar notification otherwise his agitation would continue on other 30 demands, too.

Demonetisation: Woes of bank customers continue

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, November 13

Chaos continues to prevail in the city after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The city struggles with currency shortage of around Rs 400 crore. The weekend was marked by run for new currency as malls, markets and even roads wore a deserted look and rush, chaos and high tempers run high at banks and ATMs.“Banks had recently communicated that given to the economic status of the city, it required a minimum of Rs 500 crore in new currency. We have so far got Rs 100 crore since the money has to be equally distributed across the 21 districts of Haryana. We have apprised the state government and senior officials about the need and hopefully, things will improve soon. The administration is closely monitoring the entire process,” said Deputy Commissioner TL Satya Prakash.The police have posted special officers to prevent unwanted incidents in view of long queues for exchange of currency notes.“There are queues but no law and order problems. We are maintaining discipline and security here and even banks have been asked to step up security at the ATMs,” said Commissioner of Police Sandeep Khirwar.

Roadways’ revenue dips

Jhajjar: Local depot of the Haryana Roadways has witnessed a decrease of 20 per cent in its revenue during the past five days due to the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.Though the roadways employees are accepting the scrapped currency from passengers following the directives of the Reserve Bank of India, they are finding it hard to return the balance amount to the commuters due to acute scarcity of small denomination notes.“Over 20 per cent fall has been recorded in the revenue of the Jhajjar depot as people are avoiding travelling in the buses for not having small or new denomination notes. Before monetisation, the revenue of the depot was over Rs 11 lakh per day which has now reduced to around Rs 9 lakh,” said Balwant Singh Godara, General Manager, Jhajjar Roadways Depot.Migrants feel the heatKarnal: With harvesting season of paddy coming to an end, a large number of migrant labourers, mainly from Bihar and UP, are finding it difficult to deposit money in bank accounts.They are running from pillar to post as many of them do not have their bank accounts and usually deposit money in bank accounts of their wives or other relatives.With strict norms enforced by the banks for depositing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, a person has to submit the photocopy of any identity proof if he has to deposit money in some other bank account.Jaggu Ram, a labourer from Bihar, said that he wanted to deposit Rs 14,000 in the bank account of his wife, but was refused by the bank authorities as he had no identity proof. Before the demonetisation process, he had deposited Rs 4,000 in his wife’s account from the same bank on October 27, he added.People left high and dryBhiwani: The long queues outside banks and ATMs saw no end on the fourth consecutive day today. People thronged the local bank branches as early as 8am to exchange defunct currency notes. However, their efforts did not bear results after bank officials refused to give cash on withdrawal slips citing lack of cash availability.“I have been standing in a queue since 10am to withdraw Rs 10,000 from my account, but when my turn came in the afternoon, bank officials handed out only Rs 2000, citing lack of cash with them”, said Ram Mehar, a local resident.Pawan Kumar, an electrician from a nearby village, said that banks in the rural areas had not received new currency notes so far and the ATMs were lying defunct.Rajesh Kumar, a local businessman said: “My daughter, who studies in Noida, wants to come home but she does not have cash and due to long queues outside banks, I am unable to transfer money to her.”Bhagwan Dass, Branch Manager, Cooperative Bank, said that they were only depositing the old currency notes and not exchanging the notes. He said that his branch had not received cash from the main branch.

Withdraw money as per need, says Khattar

• Rohtak: People standing in queue in front of a bank were taken by surprise as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar got down from his car and walked up to them here on Sunday. He asked those queued up about the difficulties being faced by them. The CM advised them to withdraw cash only as per their requirement. Khattar also advised traders to get the new currency notes deposited in banks on a day-to-day basis so that other people could withdraw cash as and when required. Talking to reporters later, the CM asserted that the Prime Minister’s decision to demonetise the big currency notes was a bold step taken in the larger interest. Cash-availability would improve soon, he added.

Hisar MP hails move

• Hisar: Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala has welcomed the Centre’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. He has also urged people to bear with the initial problems, adding, it would strengthen the economy and benefit the countrymen in the long run. In a statement, Dushyant said he would write to the PM for lowering of interest rates so that the poor and middle-class families could avail loans.

EFFECTS OF DEMONETISATION

People harassed as cash inflow remains a trickle

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 12

Residents from all walks of life were highly inconvenienced in absence of limited cash flow in the market.Liquidity crisis forced the people to stand outside branches of the state-run and private banks as early as 9 am and even before. However, closed and dried up ATMs turned into eyesores.There was no order in queues as young and old, women and men, lined up waiting for their turn. Serpentine and winding rows dangerously occupied maximum areas of roads leaving no space for plying of vehicles.Meanwhile, there were no policemen or women present to manage the traffic and long queues.An employee Bhupinder Singh, standing outside a nationalised bank at Town Hall, said most currency at his house was in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination, which could no longer be used. “Though we have been able to procure essential kitchen items from grocery and green stores being run by private companies, there are many family exigencies, which require money,” he quipped.He added that his son Pushpinder Singh was to travel to Chandigarh for attending an interview on November 14. So, he could not take any risk, but to arrange money by standing in a queue.Arti Sharma, another customer of a private bank on the Mall road, said she had been visiting the branch for the past two days, but the staff had a terse reply that cash arrived and was exhausted in a few minutes. She was frustrated to find the shutters of the ATM down. She said now the bank staff had told her to come in the evening. She added that with two minor children to look after and a regular job it was an uphill task to visit the bank branch twice a day.Another bank customer, NS Gabarhia was irked at the staff of three different banks on Court Road, Link Road and Mall Road as they downed their shutters at 5 pm yesterday. He said it was a clear violation of the government direction that these branches must remain open up to 7 pm.Meanwhile, parents were unable to deposit school fee of their children on time. They had sought extension in the last date for payment of fee.A parent on the condition of anonymity said his two children were studying in the school on Lawrence Road. He said after a struggle of four hours he managed to reach cash counter, but was extremely dejected when the staff there refused to accept the fee in the demonetised currency, which is no longer a legal tender. He confronted the staff and they replied that they were acting as per the school’s directions. He added that banks were accepting all kinds of old notes, but not the school fee.

Banks, ATMs run out of cash, residents of patience

PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh meets residents outside a bank in the Civil Lines area.

Bathinda, November 13

Residents from all walks of life faced inconvenience due to the limited cash flow in the market.Liquidity crisis has forced people to stand outside branches of banks as early as 9 am and even earlier.People, including senior citizens, students, women, office-goers, were seen waiting for their turn at money outlets throughout the city.Most of them said they needed liquid cash for their daily expenses as they only had currency notes, which were recently demonetised by the Centre.Banks were opened today but heated argument were reported at various branches as bank officials had partially pulled down their shutters after they went out of cash late afternoon.Akshay Kumar, a resident of Tagore Nagar, said, “We went to a private bank today to withdraw cash but after standing for hours, bank officials pulled down the shutter and said the bank was closed as they ran out of cash.”Sanjiv Gupta, another city resident, said there was chaos at the bank as no separate queue was made for senior citizens and women.Another resident Shikha Garg said she had been visiting the bank for the past two days but the staff had a terse reply that the cash arrived but it was distributed in a few minutes. She was frustrated to find the shutters of the ATM down again.Satvinder Singh, a resident of Model Town, said, “I need to exchange my currency notes immediately. I waited for more than two hours at the bank for it.”An SBoP official said they were working hard but the rush of people was high and cash supply was less. — TNS