Live: 90 Percent Respondents on NaMo App Support Currency Ban
Opposition began the fifth day of the winter session by staging a protest outside the Parliament.
- Indian National Congress started a protest march from the AICC office to Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.
- PM Modi likely to be present in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
- Opposition leaders protest against demonetisation near Parliament.
- Both the Houses of Parliament have been dysfunctional for five days.
- Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Economic Affairs, announced various measures to digitise monetary transactions.
- Opposition parties will launch a countrywide protest on 28 November, which has been dubbed ‘Aakrosh Diwas’.
- Protest against the government’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and 1,000 notes has dominated Parliament’s winter session.
- Opposition members are demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Parliament to discuss the note ban.
Respondents on NaMo App Believe Demonetisation Will Curb Black Money
In the first 24 hours of launching the poll on NaMo App, five lakh people responded using the app and 92 percent of the respondents said that demonetisation will have an impact on curbing black money, corruption and terrorism.
PM Modi’s twitter handle tweeted out the results of the poll calculated in the first 24 hours.
Cabinet Meeting Held in Parliament
Media sources reported that a cabinet meeting was held on Wednesday evening in the Parliament’s library building.
PM Modi To Be Present in Rajya Sabha on Thursday?
After skipping the initial few days of the winter session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend Rajya Sabha on Thursday, media reports said on Wednesday.
Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar were reportedly in discussion with the opposition on Wednesday to try and hold an all-party leaders' meet to break the deadlock.
The opposition parties had been asking the Prime Minister to be present in Parliament.
It was also reported that Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be meeting floor leaders of all parties on Thursday at 10 am.
Congress’ Protest March
Indian National Congress started a protest march from the AICC office to Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.
They have been protesting against PM’s move of demonetisation of higher currency notes.
Congress’ official twitter handle posted a poster asking people to join the march.
Updated Paytm App to Allow Shopkeepers Accept Card Payments
Digital payments company Paytm on Wednesday launched an updated app that will allow small shopkeepers to accept payments made through credit and debit cards.
The app will be particularly useful for small shopkeepers without card swiping machines, ensuring they do not lose out on business amid the ongoing cash crunch following demonetisation.
Explaining the features offered on its app, Paytm said that under the 'Accept Payment' icon, small shopkeepers and businesses can ‘self-declare’ their details and provide bank account details to start receiving payments instantly up to Rs 50,000 a month as stipulated by RBI.
The shopkeeper will generate a bill for the item sold and hand over the phone to the customer for entering card details.
The details, entered by the customer, will not reside on the app itself, but on the bank's website, making the process secure, Paytm said.
Driver Flees With Over Rs 1 Crore ATM Money in Bangalore
A driver carrying Rs 1.37 crore cash to an ATM on KG Road in Bengaluru fled with the money, according to an ANI report.
An investigation into the incident is underway.
New Vehicles to Have Digital Tag for Toll Payments
The government has asked automobile manufacturers to provide a digital identity tag to all new vehicles, including cars, to enable electronic payment at all toll plazas and ensure seamless movement at checkposts.
In a nation where a majority of consumers still deal in cash, the government is pushing for electronic transactions to improve transparency and weed out black money.
"So, as far as toll plazas are concerned, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways is advising vehicle manufacturers that in all new vehicles, the manufacturers must provide Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) facility," Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters.
First Fake Rs 2,000 Note Surfaces in Gujarat
The government’s claims of increasing security features in the new currency notes seemed to have fallen flat as The Economic Times reported that a fake Rs 2,000 note had been found in Gujarat.
A paan shop owner in Bodakdev found a forged Rs 2,000 currency note, said the report.
There had been reports of fake Rs 2,000 notes being found in other parts of the country, but the ‘notes’ were just photocopied versions of the original. But this note had features including the Gandhi watermark next to the national emblem and a fake security thread.
Unable to Withdraw Money for Exam Fee, Teen Hangs Self
An 18-year-old student allegedly committed suicide after "failing to withdraw money" from a bank for paying his examination fees in Mavai Buzurg village in UP, police said.
They said Suresh has been standing in queue for the past several days to withdraw money to pay his examination fees but he could not succeed.
After returning from the bank on Tuesday, he hanged himself from the ceiling using his mother's saree, police said.
Suresh's family said he was a BSc second year student in Panchnehi Degree College and had to submit the fees by Wednesday.
Rs 21,000 Crore Deposited in Jan Dhan Accounts
Government sources on Wednesday said that Rs 21,000 crore has been deposited in Jan Dhan accounts till now.
The largest amount of money has been deposited in West Bengal and Karnataka.
Mamata Banerjee Calls Demonetisation an “Actionless” Announcement
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling his announcement of demonetisation “actionless”. Speaking at the protest rally at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Banerjee said:
“Modi is blackmailing the media and corporate house,” Banerjee alleged, accusing the government of making an “actionless” announcement.
“During the October- November-December quarter (sic), mark my words, the GDP will slide. Next quarter, it will be negative,” said Banerjee, comparing Modi with feudal lords.
Banerjee says she will take this protest, which started at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, to Lucknow, Varanasi, Bihar and Punjab and later take it across the nation until the problems are addressed.
She said that she will continue the protests till farmers receive their money. She went on to say that the government has lost its credibility because of this step.
While RS is in Session, Mamata Banerjee Prepares to Address a Protest Rally
Opposition members are raising Points of Orders in the Rajya Sabha amid slogans of “Narendra Modi sadan mai ao”, “Narendra Modi bhaago mat” and “Narendra Modi murdabaad” from the well of the House.
As the slogans grew louder, the House was adjourned for the day.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party, meanwhile, announced that she will be addressing a protest rally at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Naresh Agarwal Calls Govt Members to be in the House “On Rent”
Government members raise their voices as Opposition member Naresh Agarwal calls them “kiraye ke members” of the government.
Roopa Ganguly and other government members approached the Well as Agarwal continued to call them “members on rent”.
He quipped to say that all the Parliament members are, in fact, on rent as they are paid Rs 2,000 per day. Trying to evade the heat caused by his comment, Agarwal raised the issue of raising the salary of Parliament members.
Jaya Bachchan Joins Didi
Samajwadi Party (SP) member and yesteryear actress Jaya Bachchan joined Mamata Banerjee at Jantar Mantar, registering her protest against the demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
Opposition to Observe Aakrosh Diwas
Opposition parties will launch country wide protest, Aakrosh Diwas, on 28 November.
The members of the opposition had gathered near the Mahatma Gandhi statue to protest against demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
GST Ministerial Meeting Deffered
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Ministerial meeting which was scheduled to take place on 25 November deferred, next date for holding meeting yet to be decided.
Three legislations under GST were expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session. The government is aiming to roll out GST by 1 April 2017.
JDU’s Sharad Yadav Joins Didi at Jantar Mantar
Janata Dal United (JDU) member Sharad Yadav joined the dharna organised by TMC’s Mamata Banerjee at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against the demonetisation of rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
Mamata Banerjee at Jantar Mantar
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and members of her party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), have entered Jantar Mantar premises in Delhi to protest against the demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
RS Dysfunctional, LS Drowns in Slogans
Both the Houses reconvened at noon. Rajya Sabha was adjourned by 12:03 pm, till 2 pm, while the Lok Sabha keep up their demand seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House.
Opposition members were requested by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to lose their placards which were raised in protest. Although the Speaker’s request was accepted, Lok Sabha proceedings continued to drown in sloganeering.
At 12:36 pm, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.
Rahul Gandhi Calls Demonetisation a Scam
Outside the Parliament, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi called demonetisation a scam and asked for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe.
He also reiterated the Opposition members’ demand seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the Parliament to discuss the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
Prime Minister Modi Was Present in the Lok Sabha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the Lok Sabha but did not make a statement and was hardly visible.
As pointed out by Sitaram Yechury, Thursday is the Prime Minister’s designated day of appearance in the Lok Sabha when the House is in session.
Mayawati Urges President Mukherjee to Summon PM Modi
Mayawati attacked the Prime Minister again after the Rajya Sabha was adjourned, seeking the President to summon Modi in the Parliament.
Both Houses Adjourned Within 30 Minutes
Question Hour in the Lok Sabha began and the House was adjourned till noon within minutes amid uproar against demonetisation while Rajya Sabha observed silence to pay respect to the deceased.
Rajya Sabha was in session for half an hour before it was adjourned till noon.
The Rajya Sabha proceedings, which began in silence, were disrupted after BSP supremo Mayawati raised the matter of demonetisation and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence an insult of the House.
“He has created a financial anarchy in India. He has to come in the House,” said Congress member Anand Sharma.
New Govt Measures
Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary announced various measures taken by the government to digitise all monetary transactions in the light of demonetisation. Following are the highlights:
- Government has introduced an application called UPI to carry out digital transactions.
- Service charge on digital transactions through feature phones will not be applied till 31 December 2016.
- All public sector and few private sector banks have waived waived service charge on usage of debit card.
- For the current rabi crop season, NABARD has sanctioned a credit limit of Rs 23,000 crore to District Central Cooperative Banks.
SC Refuses to Stay Demonetisation-related Hearings
Supreme Court has refused to stay demonetisation-related hearings in multiple courts. The apex court has also issued notice to all the petitioners to appear in court.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are reportedly in attendance.
Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Sadananda Gowda has raised concern that the Centre has asked hospitals to accept old currency notes only till 24 November.
Opposition Leaders Protest Outside Parliament
Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Derek O’Brien, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sharad Yadav, D Raja and more, are protesting against demonetisation near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Parliament building.
Growing Unrest
While over 60 people have been reported dead due to the effects of demonetisation, a policeman in Fatehpur was caught lathicharging farmers standing in line outside a bank.
While in Mumbai’s Pali Naka, unidentified men tried to loot an ATM cash van and later fled the spot, on Tuesday night. A case has been registered and investigation is underway.
Unidentified people looted Rs 40 lakh from Sarthal branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Kishtwar, on Tuesday night.
Read highlights from Day 6 of the winter session on The Quint.
Govt Tries to Ease Cash Crunch
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) eased the conditions for cash withdrawal for the purpose of celebration of weddings.
People can now withdraw Rs 2,000 from Big Bazaar using their debit cards from 24 November.
Indian Railways announced that IRCTC service charges would be waived off on booking of e-tickets and i-tickets from 23 November to 31 December.
Mamata Banerjee at Jantar Mantar
Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has announced a dharna in protest of the note ban at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Banerjee has been relentlessly opposing the move since its announcement on 8 November.
She has claimed that the Centre is confused and instead of bringing black money from Swiss bank accounts, the government has taken away the common man’s money.
CPI(M) Considers Serving PM Modi With Contempt of Parliament Notice
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is also planning to bring a contempt of Parliament notice against PM Modi for announcing important policy matters outside Parliament, but not coming to the House to explain them.
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