Move to mark customers with indelible ink ‘atrocious': DMK

DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly MK Stalin also dubbed the move as “authoritarian”. “Marking people with ink without trusting them is atrocious,” he said. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is running his government saying he trusts the people and today’s announcement by the Centre is an authoritarian one,” Stalin said in a statement. 

“There are apprehensions among the people whether the government elected by them was veering off the democratic path. Therefore, the Centre should stop doubting its own people and withdraw the announcement,” he added. Stalin called the Centre’s move “condemnable” and urged it to ease the norms for cash disbursal.

The government has proposed the use of indelible ink for customers as the same people were coming back to exchange currency notes again and again, besides reports that certain unscrupulous elements, trying to convert black money into white, have organised groups of people and are sending them from one bank to the other to exchange the notes and get Rs 4,500 each in return. Earlier, Stalin visited a bank branch in Madurai, inquired with the people waiting in the queues there regarding their plight and held discussions with the bank officials. He was informed of the “difficulties” faced by the citizens at a branch of a nationalised bank in Nallur in Madurai district, a party release said. 

The DMK leader also held discussions with the officials on the “difficulties” being faced by the banks in disbursing money, but requested them that cash be given to the people without any hassle. Stalin was in Madurai to campaign for the DMK candidate in the November 19 Tiruparankundram by-poll.

Frustration writ large on their faces, people continued to throng banks and ATMs desperate to exchange or deposit demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes across Tamil Nadu even as there was no let up in the milling crowds a week after withdrawal of the currency. With government enhancing limit of the old and defunct higher denomination currency that can be exchanged for fresh notes from Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500 per day, people lined up in front of bank counters and ATMs since morning. Some of them had rushed to the counters following reports that new Rs 500 notes were being distributed, but turned back disappointed. Most ATMs ran dry within hours.