Chaos on Day 2 as ATMs Run Dry, Hospitals Still Taking Old Notes
Existing exemptions on paying public utility bills were extended till 14 November, too.
- Long queues outside several banks across the country remained on Friday with customers carrying their ID proofs to get their old currency notes exchanged
- Either ATMs remained closed or carried “not working” notices
- ICICI Bank ATMs became operational, but for usage by only its customers
- SBI said that normalisation of ATM services will take another 10 days
- The home ministry issued an advisory asking all the states to provide security to the banks, post offices and agencies managing ATMs and cash
Existing exemptions on paying public utility bills were extended till 14 November
All Exemptions Extended Till 14 Nov
The government has now decided to extend the existing exemptions on paying public utility bills till 14 November.
Payments for utility bills, such as water and electricity bills, will be restricted to individuals and households for arrears or current bills, and no advance payments will be allowed.
Home Ministry Issues Advisory on Security at Banks
The Home Ministry issued an advisory asking all the states to provide security to the banks, post offices and agencies managing ATMs and cash.
Toll Suspension for National Highways Extended Till 14 November
As an effect of demonetisation, toll taxes to be paid on National Highways were suspended till 11 November. The suspension has now been extended till 14 November midnight for all National Highways.
Shiv Sena Attacks Modi Govt
Criticising the sudden announcement to scrap high value notes, Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray said this decision taken by the government is not in public interest.
He added that the government should have acted against the “black money deposited in all the Swiss accounts.”
Rahul Gandhi in Long Queue at Bank
Congress vice-President Rahul Gandhi was seen joining a long queue at the State Bank of India Branch in Parliament Street. He said he’s there to exchange notes worth Rs 4,000.
Demonetisation Move Hits Bangladeshi Patients
Hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens, who come to India for medical treatment, have been adversely affected by India's sudden demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, media reported.
The decision has impacted Bangladeshi patients in India, either already under treatment or seeking the same.
Relatives of such patients said they had exchanged Bangladesh currency or US dollars for high value Indian currency like Rs 1,000 or 500 because large amounts are needed for treatment which is easy to handle with high value notes.
Special Lines for Women, Elderly on Weekend
The State Bank of India announced special arrangements for the weekend to ease the process exchanging dated Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. There will be separate queues for female and senior citizens and separate windows for deposit and exchange at branches, the bank said.
Temples Seal Donation Boxes
Temples, on Friday, sealed donation boxes in Marathwada region so that people don't try to donate their black money after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
In Gujarat, a plea was filed in Ahmadabad High Court seeking extension in the usage of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes for emergency and essential services for a month.
Also Read: Tirupati, Golden Temple Pilgrims Left Stranded With Dated Notes
Notes in New Denominations to Come: RBI
The RBI, on Friday, assured that after scrapping the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, the RBI has made arrangements to distribute notes in new denominations across the country.
The RBI assured that the exchanging notes have started since 10 November 2016 and said that there is enough cash available with banks and all arrangements have been made for more cash to be available.
Amit Shah Attacks Opposition, Asks Why are Political Parties Upset?
After opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, AAP and BSP, attacked the government's sudden decision to abolish Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, BJP President Amit Shah on Friday brushed aside such assertions and said the government’s decision will help in eliminating corruption from the country’s economy. He urged the people to join the government’s campaign against corruption.
ICICI Opens ATMs, But Only For Its Customers
ICICI Bank’s ATMs have become operational for usage by its customers. However, people with accounts in other banks can use the bank's ATMs when the NPCI switch comes to function.
The lender also doubled the daily usage limit of debit cards for use at Point-of-sale (POS) as well as online transactions and also offered its credit worthy customers an additional credit limit of 20 per cent on credit cards.
Normalisation of ATM Services Will Take Another 10 Days: SBI
The State Bank of India (SBI) said normalisation of ATM services will take another 10 days as the number of machines is huge but the vendors providing services are few.
This, however, is in stark contrast of the government’s assurances of all ATMs being operational from Friday. The country’s biggest money lender has made operational 29, 176 ATMs on Friday, however, this is less than half of the total number of machines it operates across the country.
SC Agrees to Hear Pleas Against Demonetisation
The Supreme Court agreed to hear on 15 November two petitions seeking quashing of the government's decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes on grounds that it infringed citizens' right to life and trade, among others.
Two lawyers, who have filed separate PILs in personal capacities against the demonetisation, aimed at weeding out fake currency and black money, mentioned their matters for urgent hearing before two benches in forenoon and evening, respectively.
PM Modi’s Happy to Learn People Are Being 'Patient'
I-T Dept Conducts Multiple Raids in Delhi, Mumbai
The Income Tax department has reportedly conducted multiple raids in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities in the wake of demonetisation of currency on Thursday.
Interestingly, the operations (surveys) were launched from the evening as the taxman wanted some hard cash to get accumulated at the payment counters to make the action effective.
Officials said the operations are being carried out at least at four locations in the national capital, including popular market places like Karol Bagh, Dariba Kalan and Chandni Chowk, three locations in Mumbai and few others in Chandigarh and Ludhiana.
Sources said the department had received "actionable inputs" that some traders, jewellers, currency exchanges and hawala dealers were allegedly exploiting the recent currency demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and were changing currencies at "discounted" prices, thereby profiteering illegally.
Kejriwal Lashes Out at Demonetisation Policy
BJP and its "friends" were informed about the demonetisation of high value currency "a week before" the move was effected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged on Thursday.
Also Read: What’s the Deal, Mr PM? Kejriwal Asks Why Modi Is Now in Paytm Ads
Notes of All Denominations to Be Reintroduced, Says Jaitley
All denominations of currency notes will be reintroduced with new designs and features, said Shaktikanta Das.
The old Rs 50, Rs 100 and other denomination notes will continue to be legal tender.
From time to time, new series of notes with new features and designs will be infused into the market.
New Rs 1,000 Notes to Be Brought In
Economics Affairs Secretary, Shaktikanta Das, announced that Rs 1,000 notes will also be brought in with a new dimension and design. He added that the process of designing was on for the last few months and very few people in the RBI were involved in designing the notes.
Here’s All the Action From the Field
It’s the first day of banks opening after the demonetisation policy and The Quint’s reporters are live from outside banks in Delhi.
Happy Customers Come Out With New Rs 2,000 Notes
As RBI governor Urjit Patel promised in his speech on Tuesday night, banks started handing out the new Rs 2,000 note to people in exchange for the old notes.
Shut ATMs With ‘Not Working’ Notices
Twitter was abuzz with photos, posts and memes about the long queues outside banks. This, obviously, also led to a massive traffic situation, especially in cities like Delhi and Bengaluru.
Rush Outside Banks
People started thronging banks in the country even before they opened on Thursday. There were long queues outside several banks across the country, with customers carrying their ID proofs to get their old currency notes exchanged.
SBI MD Lauds Modi’s Move
Arundhati Bhattacharya, Managing Director of State Bank of India, on Thursday lauded the government’s move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. “We’re providing full support to customers and have advised the same to every branch,” she said.
She further added:
(With agency inputs)
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