Note Ban: RBI Says Bank Staff Indulging in Fraudulent Practices
The demonetisation move has also hit the winter session of Parliament, with both Houses being adjourned.
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- 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 2016 to 31 December 2016
- Amid uproar over demonetisation, both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha adjourned till Wednesday
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that the demonetisation policy is a historic step, taken in national interest
- The winter session of Parliament has been paralysed over uproar against the government’s move
- The Opposition has repeatedly demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Parliament
Man Crushed To Death In Stampede Outside Bank
A 65-year-old man was trampled to death outside a bank while standing in a queue to withdraw cash, police told PTI on Tuesday.
Ramnath Kushwaha, a resident of Gulriha village, was caught in a stampede outside the State Bank of India branch on Monday. He was trampled by a crowd who had gathered to withdraw cash, SP Mohd Imran said.
He had gone to withdraw money to make payments to a hospital, where his pregnant daughter-in-law was admitted, the officer said.
Kushwaha was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the SP said.
Ratan Tata Calls Demonetisation a 'Bold Act'
Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata hailed the government's move to demonetise high-value currency notes as a bold act and it will eliminate black money and corruption.
Rs 2,000 Can Now Be Withdrawn From Big Bazaar
People can now withdraw Rs 2,000 from Big Bazaar using their debit cards from 24 November, making it a little easier on people who have been queueing up in front of ATMs.
The government also extended the waiver of the airport parking fees up to 28 November.
RBI also issued an advisory to banks asking them to ensure adequate cash supply to DCCBs and Regional Rural Banks for disbursement of crop loans to farmers.
The Finance Ministry announced that old currency notes will not be allowed to make deposits in small savings schemes any longer.
Also Read: Currency Ban Is Tearing Rural Banks Apart
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.
The list should also indicate the purpose for which the proposed payments are being made.
The limit of semi-closed Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) was enhanced to Rs 20,000 from Rs 10,000.
Branch Officials Indulging in Fraudulent Practices: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday said that officials in a few bank branches are indulging in fraudulent practices while exchanging old currency notes.
The RBI has advised the banks to enhance vigilance to stop such activities and take stern action against the officials.
TMC to Organise Protest Against Note Ban
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that her party, the Trinamool Congress, will be organising a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.
Banerjee has been opposing the Prime Minister’s demonetisation policy ever since it was announced.
Yechury Calls Modi Arrogant
Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Sitaram Yechury repeated his allegations in the House, and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrogance for a dysfunctional Parliament.
Arjun Meghwal, Minister of State (Finance), said:
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia Detained
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Kapil Mishra were detained near the Parliament building. They were marching towards the Parliament in protest against the demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.
Sisodia earlier met family members of the man who died while waiting in a queue outside a bank in Najafgarh and hit out at PM Modi over the deaths due to demonetisation.
Sisodia was later released from Parliament Street Police station.
Didi Relentlessly Continues Attack on Modi
Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee kept up her attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, outside the Parliament.
Rajya Sabha Remains Dysfunctional on Day 6
Vehement protests over the government’s demonetisation move continued for a sixth consecutive day, causing both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to be adjourned till Wednesday.
Senior Ministers Meet Arun Jaitley
A meeting between Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and senior ministers of the government is underway in the Parliament. The meeting is about demonetisation and the opposition’s stance on it.
Ministers including Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Jayant Sinha, Santosh Gangwar and Arjun Meghwal are present in the meeting.
And Now, PM Seeks Public Opinion on Note Ban
Almost two weeks after Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation policy, he has now urged citizens to rate the move through the Narendra Modi app on their mobile phones.
On Tuesday, Modi asked the public to participate in a survey where a number of questions have been posed with regard to taking away the legal status of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
RS Surjewala Mounts Attack on Centre
“70 people have died in 13 days on account of demonetisation decision, will the Prime Minister apologise to those families?,” asked Congress’ RS Surjewala outside the Parliament on Tuesday.
Mounting attack on the Centre, Surjewala asserted that the Modi-led government is now devising escape routes for “it can neither go back nor go forward on demonetisation”.
Rahul Gandhi Attacks Modi
“The PM can speak on TV, pop concert, but why not in the Parliament?,” Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi demanded on Tuesday.
Amid Uproar, Lok Sabha Adjourned For the Day
Amid unrest in the Lok Sabha over the note ban move, the House was adjourned for the day.
‘We Are Ready For Debate’: BJP’s Ananth Kumar
The ruling BJP party on Tuesday asserted that they are ready for debate. The Opposition, however, has been Insisting that Prime Minister Modi be present in the House.
“We Want to tell everyone that we are ready for a debate in both the houses,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said in the Lok Sabha.
Replying to the same, Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We want the Prime Minister to come because people are dying and marriages are breaking”.
Opposition Demands Modi’s Presence, Both Houses Adjourned
Amid chants of “Modi ji hosh mein aao (Modi wake up)” by members of the Opposition, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12:30 pm.
Speaking at the Rajya Sabha, both BSP’s Mayawati and Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad asserted that demonetisation is a sensitive issue and demanded the Prime Minister’s presence in the House.
“Demanding the Prime Minister’s presence in the House is not anti-national,” Azad said.
The Opposition has been pressing for Modi’s presence in the Parliament since day one of the winter session.
‘This is to Eradicate Black Money’: Venkaiah Naidu Re-Asserts Government’s Move
Addressing the media after the BJP’s parliamentary meeting, Union Minister Venkaiah Nadu re-asserted that demonetisation is done to “eradicate black money”.
He further informed the press:
“We passed a resolution in favour of demonetisation, was moved by Home Minsiter Rajnath Singh”.
Modi’s Emotional Speech at the Parliamentary Meeting
In an emotional speech before BJP MPs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday vehemently defended the demonetisation, saying it was done for the benefit of the people.
Modi urged the MPs to counter what he called was "misinformation" being spread by the opposition parties on the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
“We came to power for the poor, not for our own sake,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar quoted the Prime Minister as saying in his speech.
‘It’s a Historic Step’: FM Arun Jaitley on Demonetisation
The BJP held a parliamentary meeting before the winter session of the Parliament on Tuesday.
Addressing ministers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the government is ready for a discussion on demonetisation.
Calling it a historic step by the government, Jaitley said:
He also attacked people who doubted whether Jaitley knew of the decision at all.
“Some people saying even Finance Minister did not know of this decision, and then they say the party knew beforehand,” he said at the meeting.
Jaitley further informed that “for next few weeks, the government is planning to focus on agricultural sector”. He admitted that the move has inconvenienced many, but said that it will boost the country’s digital economy.
A Relentless Opposition
A bill to provide better mental healthcare is listed for the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday but the Opposition is unlikely to relent.
Opposition parties on Tuesday are expected to stick to their demand, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the House debate on demonetisation. Rajya Sabha was a complete washout on Monday with members demanding a condolence resolution for those who died standing in queues outside banks and ATMs.
Opposition leaders will meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, seeking his intervention on demonetisation.
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