Demonetization: Long queue outside ATMs in Mumbai; withdrawal from banks ease up

People on Saturday continued to queue up outside ATMs with hopes of getting cash, while those opting for bank withdrawal had a tad smooth run as banks offered exchange service of scrapped currencies only to their respective customers.

Congress workers held a demonstration in suburban Mulund, where they hit out at the government, claiming demonetization has only benefited the rich and mighty.

Less chaos was witnessed outside banks on Saturday after Indian Banks' Association last night announced that all banks will serve only their respective customers and will not exchange the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from customers of other banks. Senior citizens were, however, exempted and they can go to any bank branch to exchange notes. Security guards were seen checking the validity of customers outside the gates of the banks.

Several ATMs counters in South Mumbai and suburban areas continued to remain shut as cash ran dry, compounding inconvenience to the people. A visibly upset Mulund resident, Anees Khan said he could only get Rs 2,000 from a bank against the permissible limit of Rs 24,000. "I was shocked to hear when bank official handed me Rs 2000 and not Rs 24,000. What would I do in Rs 2,000. I wrote a complaint...I hope that government would understand the problem which is not just mine, but everyone's," said Khan.

For advertising professional, Deepika Prajapati, her experience was, however, a smooth one as she got Rs 24,000 in less than 20 minutes. "I went to a bank in Kandivli. There were only 6-7 people in the queue after them, my turn came within 15 minutes and I withdrew Rs 24,000," she said, flashing new Rs 2,000 notes.

Some people in south Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar locality said they have been queueing up in the wee hours so that their chance arrives early the next day when the banks open.

Meanwhile, Congress workers, holding replicas of the invalidated Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, demanded that immediate steps should be taken to alleviate the problems being faced by people across the country. General Secretary of Congress's Mumbai North East district Rajesh Ingle said, "We are not against the demonetization which has been brought to curb the menace of black money, but are protesting the unplanned manner in which it is being executed. People have been standing in queues for 7 to 8 hours and despite that they are not getting money." "This demonetization is benefiting only businessmen, industrialists, while common man, students, labourers, housewives, small traders, patients etc. are the worst-hit. Government must announce extension of exchanging and depositing old notes to steer away the panic," he added.

Meanwhile, some people at the demonstration site, slammed Congress and said even the Opposition party has no moral right to protest over corruption and black money.