Indelible ink to be used to identify people who’ve made withdrawals
Even as the government and the Opposition are trying to formulate their strategies for the coming winter session of Parliament on the issue of demonetisation, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, in a press meet on Tuesday, made a couple of announements to combat the crisis of cash crunch.
Mr. Das urged places of worship, who receive smaller denomination notes, to deposit them in banks so supply of these notes increases.
He warned people not to fall prey to rumours being spread through social media.’We have enough stock of salts and there is no reason for a temporary surge in price or shortage. Supply of essential commodities is being closely monitored. There are a lot of stories spreading through social media, like reports of certain institutions going on strike. There is no such thing, please don’t believe such reports.”
People throng ATMs, banks
People began thronging ATMs and banks across the country from Tuesday morning to withdraw money and exchange Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. Many banks had remained closed on Monday on account of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
People wait for their turn to withdraw cash from an ATM at Bhiwandi in Mumbai.
The Congress and seven other Opposition parties met on Monday to formulate a joint strategy to put the government on the mat on the issue. After the meeting, Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said, “There is broad consensus that the demonetisation issue should be raised in Parliament.”
Addressing a rally in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted his opponents for criticising his move. He asked people if he should be frightened by powerful forces hurt by his decision, even as he reiterated he would face the consequences.
Updates of the day:
Desperate attempt: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says, ”This is a desperate attempt to start a ‘black mechanism’ with indelible ink. This shows this government does not trust the the common people.”
1.09 p.m.: Information & Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu says the Prime Minister and the government. firmly believe that the country is made up of mostly honest people; but the nation is suffering due to a dishonest minority. “To say that the government has informed some people in advance is an absurd allegation. There was no leak or advance intimation to anyone,” he says.
12.12 p.m.: Mr. Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi exchanges saome defunct higher denomination notes in a bank in Gandhinagar.
11.41 a.m.: CPI(M) polit bureau meet begins at party headquarters in New Delhi. The Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tripura are present.
11.02 a.m.: Are demonetised notes striking gold?
Financial investigation agencies have gathered prima facie evidence suggesting that a number of jewellers and foreign exchange operators in the country indulged in illicit conversion of demonetised Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes.
The Customs Intelligence has zeroed in over 400 big jewellers in 25 cities on reports that soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation, they showed a sharp jump in sales. In the black market, the gold price had gone up to Rs. 50,000 for 10 grams.
In one case, a jeweller sold 201 kg of gold in just three days, leaving a minuscule balance in its coffers. His accounts are being scrutinised.
11.00 a.m.: JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav gives notice for suspension of all listed business in the Rajya Sabha to discuss “unplanned demonetisation of Rs. 500/Rs. 1000 notes”.
10.49 a.m.: Congress strategy meeting gets under way, news agency ANI reports
10.30 a.m.: BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav tweets:
10.20 a.m.: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tells Finance Minister Arun Jaitley: “Request you to direct the concerned to increase cash supply to the cooperative banking sector as per their requirement. Private hospitals, diagnostic labs, blood banks may also be included in the exempted list.”
NDA partners express full confidence in Modi’s drive
Parliamentary floor leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday met in New Delhi, two days before the winter session is to commence, and passed a resolution expressing full confidence in the decision on demonetisation.
According to Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who was present at the meeting, Mr.Modi assured the NDA leaders that “credit for the decision would not go to him personally but all parties standing firm with him.”
Source: The Hindu
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