BLACK MARK against white money

“It has come to the notice of the government that in many places the same people are returning to banks on multiple occasions and we have also received reports that certain unscrupulous elements, who are trying to convert black money into white, have organised groups of innocent people and are sending them from one branch to another to exchange notes,” Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters. A small mark of indelible ink, used mostly during elections to prevent multiple voting, will be put on the right-hand finger from Wednesday to prevent crowding at banks by repeat exchangers. “Ideally, the ink mark should have been put on the left hand as is done when a person casts his vote. But with by-elections due in some states, an ink mark for exchange or withdrawal of currency note on the left hand will lead to unnecessary difficulties,” an official said.

The DMK on Tuesday described as ‘atrocious’ the NDA government’s decision to mark customers exchanging defunct currency notes at banks with indelible ink, saying it amounted to not trusting the people. DMK treasurer MK Stalin also dubbed the move as ‘authoritarian’. “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.

A Congress-led Opposition came together seeking to pin down the government on the demonetisation issue in the winter session of Parliament, but a consensus eluded on the TMC’s proposed march to Rashtrapati Bhawan for meeting the president.