Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Nov 15: “I have been standing in queue since 4 am without food and water and I have no money to have breakfast,” says a man standing in a long queue outside a bank in Jamia Nagar area of Delhi. Scene is same across the country since demonetisation of currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 was announced on 8th Nov.
“Government should work to end queue at public outlets, not to increase it,” says another person.
Some are angry that banks are not following government’s order.
“Government says one can exchange up to Rs 4500 and can withdraw up to Rs 24000 but banks are not following the government order. See people standing here since 3 am. I am here. I am diabetic. My health is down,” says a man.
“Facing lots of problems in getting food items, no one is accepting Rs 500 notes.”
“I have no money to purchase medicine. My son is admitted at hospital.”
“Medical stores are not accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.”
Some are angry that lawmakers and public representatives are not seen anywhere.
“Where are the ministers and MLAs? They should also come and stand in queue.”
A woman says: “We are facing lots of problems, neither getting ration, nor money. I have been visiting this bank branch for 3-4 days.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not done anything. He has just destroyed.”
Eminent citizens are also angry and sceptic that demonetisation would curb black money.
Dr. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, former member of defunct Planning Commission of India says: “I don’t think it’s going to achieve the great objective of bringing black money back. It is causing big hardships to people particularly the most vulnerable people. It’s totally hypocrisy. It’s sham. It is pulling people – those whom you wanted to help the most – into the deepest well of despair.”
Indu Prakash Singh, president, Forum Against Corruption and Threats, says: “It is not to curb black money. It’s basically to harass the people. Otherwise, if it was to curb the black money, they would have planned it well in advance. It is not that people involved in 2G scam or other scams are suffering. It is common people – we all are suffering.
Navneet Singh, Field Co-ordinator, Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan says: “What kind of decision is it? There are no arrangements. People at home or traveling – all are in trouble. The government should have first made arrangements for currency notes of small denominations. ATMs should have been arranged beforehand. The government says the decision was secret but it should tell what arrangements it made.”
Bhupendra Singh Rawat, Convenor, Jansangharsh Vahini, says: “Narendra Modi is implementing the agenda of World Bank. The agenda of World Bank is to create a cashless economic system and money of all should be in banks. In our country, labourers, farmers, adivasis, Dalits, fishermen and minorities particularly Muslims keep money at home and run their family. Where is the black money? Most of the black money is held by political parties like BJP, Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. They have invested money in land. Go to villages and people will tell you which party owns how many acres of land there. When Narendra Modi was in queue to become prime minister, he had asked people to vote for him and he would bring black money from abroad and deposit Rs 15 lakh in bank account of each citizen. What happened to that promise?”
