Live: Rail Tickets, Fuel To Get Cheaper Through Digital Payments
Exactly one month after the demonetisation announcement, the Opposition protests in Parliament premises.
It has been exactly a month since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his decision to demonetise high-value currency notes and the situation does not look any better.
At the RBI headquarters in Mumbai, the government-appointed committee of Chief Ministers and experts on demonetisation-related issues, headed by Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, will hold its first formal meeting on Thursday.
- Government announces new measures to encourage digital payments
- Opposition observes a ‘Black Day’ to mark a month of the note ban, stages protest in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex
- Rahul Gandhi says PM Modi’s demonetisation decision is a ‘foolish one’
- The Congress Vice-President says Paytm stands for ‘Pay to Modi’
- Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad says that more than 100 people have died after demonetisation and the protest at the Gandhi statue was meant pay homage to them
- Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu calls the Opposition’s protest in front of the statue a ‘photo-op’
- The government waives off service tax on debit and credit card transactions up to Rs 2,000
Rs 15 Lakh Seized in Karnataka
Six people were arrested and Rs 100, Rs 50 and Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 15 lakh were seized Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Rs 40 Lakh Seized From 'Anti-Corruption Society' President's Car
TV actor and two others found in possession of Rs 43 lakh mostly in new currency notes in Hoshangabad in MP, police said.
The sum of money was allegedly confiscated from a white-coloured Innova car that had ‘President of anti-corruption society’ on the number plate, reported the Indian Express. The new currency notes, stuffed in a black cloth bag, were mostly in higher denominations.
Government Announces New Measures
Speaking about one month of demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announces several measures to make the country go towards a cashless economy. These will come into effect from 1 January, 2017.
- Petroleum PSUs to offer discount at rate of 0.75% of the sale price to consumers making payment through digital means.
- Online ticket booked on Railway will get free accident insurance of ₹10 Lac.
- Government will provide Rupay credit cards to farmers with Kisan cards.
- Suburban train passengers who pay digitally for their tickets will get a 0.5% discount. This discount will be applicable from January 1, 2017.
- Other facilities in railways to get 5% cheaper on bookings through digital mode.
- Government bodies will not charge a transaction fee for digital payments.
- One lakh village with population up to 10,000 will get 2 PoS (Point of Sale) machines out of financial inclusion funds.
- People who pay for insurances by state-run firms online to get discounts.
- People paying general insurance premiums will get a 10% discount and 8% discount for life insurance if the payment is made online.
- RFID card holders to get 10% discount on toll plazas, national highways.
IT Raids in Chennai Finds Rs 90 Crores in Cash
Rs 90 crore in cash and 100 kg gold has been found in raids on homes of jewellers in Chennai by Income Tax (IT) officials. The IT raids were done in eight locations in Chennai. Businessmen Sekar Reddy, Srinivasa Reddy and Prem have been questioned.
Two Wheelers, CVs Worst Hit in November Due to Note Ban
Passenger vehicle sales in India inched up 1.82 per cent in November, the lowest clip since February this year, even as two-wheeler sales fell nearly 6 per cent as currency pullback affected sales, especially in rural areas.
According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), passenger vehicle sales last month were at 2,40,979 units, as against 2,36,664 in November last year.
Old Notes Can’t Be used For Rail Tickets Anymore
Old Rs 500 notes cannot be used to pay for rail catering services, train, metro and bus tickets after 10 December, reports The Hindu.
BJP Dares Rahul Gandhi to Talk in the Parliament
BJP dares Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi to speak on the issue of demonetisation in the Parliament. BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma also accuses Gandhi of making baseless allegations against the Centre to make news.
Lok Sabha Adjourned After Sloganeering by Oppn
After the uproar in the House continued, Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day.
Members of Opposition raised slogans of “we want Modi” and “desh ko lootna band karo”.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition said in Parliament that it is ready for a discussion on the issue but with voting.
Oppn Disrupts Finance Minister’s Statement in LS
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks in the Lok Sabha on the demonetisation issue amidst shouts and slogans by the Opposition.
Countering the criticism of the move, Jaitley says:
President Condemns Logjam in Parliament
The Winter Session of the Parliament has been in a logjam since it began with the Opposition protesting against demonetisation and calling for a vote. President Pranab Mukherjee condemns the continuing disruption in the Houses.
He adds that debate, discussion and dissension is necessary and asked the members not to disrupt Parliament proceedings.
Salute Indians for ‘Yagna’ Against Corruption, Terrorism: PM Modi
Even as the Opposition’s unrelenting protest continues, Prime Minister Modi has tweeted out a series of statements praising the people of India for standing by the decision and listing the “gains” of demonetisation.
One Month of Harassment, Utter Chaos: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says Prime Minister Modi must clarify the situation to the nation and take responsibility.
She put out a long post on Facebook detailing the ordeal people have faced during the month after demonetisation was announced.
“Mothers and sisters have been forced to give away their small personal savings,” she wrote.
Talking to reporters, she says:
She slams the RBI Governor and says:
‘No One Is Running the House’: Advani Meets LS Speaker
A day after criticising the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and the ongoing ruckus in Parliament, BJP leader LK Advani meets Mahajan. On Wednesday, Advani had said that “neither the Speaker nor the Parliamentary Affairs Minister is running the House”.
PM Should Sit in LS, Listen to Us and Reply: Rahul Gandhi
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi demands that Prime Minister Modi attends the Lok Sabha proceedings and engages in a discussion on the demonetisation issue, even as the uproar in Parliament continues.
Govt Waives Off Service Tax on Lower-Value Card Transactions
To promote going cashless, the government decides to waive off service tax on debit and credit transactions of up to Rs 2,000.
Please Don’t Disrupt the House: LS Speaker Tells Opposition
As members of the Opposition continue to shout slogans and protest, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan tells them not to disrupt the House.
Oppn Protest in Front of Gandhi Statue a Photo-Op: Venkaiah Naidu
As the ruckus in Parliament continues, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu says that the Opposition is not letting the government reply.
He adds that by simply posing for photo-ops in front of the Gandhi statue, the Opposition cannot claim his legacy.
More Than 100 People Died After Demonetisation: Ghulam Nabi Azad
After the Opposition held a protest against demonetisation, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad says in the Rajya Sabha that over a 100 people have died because of the policy and the protest was staged to pay homage to them.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned amidst sloganeering by Opposition members.
People Suffering, PM Laughing: Rahul Gandhi
Entire Opposition, including Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders, stand in protest.
The Opposition has said that they’re ready for discussion if there is a vote.
He added that cashless economy is nothing but a profit-making mechanism for some 4-5 companies.
Opposition Marks ‘Black Day’
This Winter Session of the Parliament has been rocked by protests over demonetisation. After PM Modi flayed the Opposition for its “undemocratic” act of not allowing a debate, the Opposition stages a protest at Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises over the issue on Thursday.
Members of the Opposition are wearing black bands in Parliament to mark one months of demonetisation.
After a Month of Note Ban
Here’s a roundup of the storm that the note ban has kicked off since it was announced on 8 November.
- A long wait in the queue for old-age pension claimed the life of a 70-year-old man in Imphal. Ibohanbi Akoijam died after fainting in the queue at the head post office on 5 December. (IANS)
- After the government cautioned people not to let their Jan Dhan accounts be used by others to launder their black money, there has been a significant decrease in the fund flow to these accounts. On 1 and 2 December, the inflow slowed down to Rs 410 crore and Rs 389 crore respectively, from Rs 20,206 crore in the first week after the announcement. (The Times of India)
- The realty market, which depends on large amounts of cash transactions, has been hit hard by the move. The National Capital Region has seen a near 30 percent dip in the registration of properties. This has led to a sharp reduction in consumer prices. (India Today)
- Goa Police seized Rs 1.5 crore in new currency notes during raids carried out in Ponda and Porvorim on Wednesday. Police have arrested two people and further investigations are underway.
- Close to Rs 13 lakh crore, out of the total of Rs 15.5 lakh crore that was demonetised, has now returned to the banking system. (CNBC)
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