New Delhi: Even though freshly minted Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 rupee notes have been pushed into circulation, Delhiites are wrangling for change. Mohit Kumar, a Mayur Vihar resident, said the shopkeepers are demanding customers to tender just the right change.
“I have been carrying a Rs 2,000 rupee note, but no one is willing to take it. Shopkeepers are saying that they don’t have change,” he said, adding that he had troubles even in buying groceries on Sunday.
Another peeved local resident said his family is facing difficulties to buy vegetables.
“Despite having money, one is left helpless. Vegetable vendors are overcharging and they want people to tender exact change,” he said.
Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetised currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations to curb black money and fake currency in circulation. In his televised address to the nation, Mr Modi said people holding high-value currency notes can deposit the same in their bank and post office accounts from November 10 till December 30. With the people finding it difficult to keep up with the Centre’s move to scrap currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, the government on Friday extended the existing exemptions on paying public utility bills till November 14. Kirti Singh said that petrol pumps are refusing to tender change. “If you pay using abolished currency notes or new notes of Rs 2,000 denominations, they refuse to give the change. I had no other option but to pay using my card,” he said.
A local retailer in Mayur Vihar claimed that suppliers are taking advantage of cash crunch in the market and selling goods for higher price. “That is the reason why we are also forced to overcharge,” the retailer said.
Meanwhile, many Delhiites are posting photographs of them breaking their piggy banks — all in a bid to have the much-required change to keep them going.
Over 12,000 Delhi police, Rapid Action Force and paramilitary personnel were deployed on Sunday to maintain law and order as a large number of people queued up to withdraw money or get their notes exchanged at various banks and ATMs in the city.
Owing to a Sunday today, a crowd was more outside banks and ATMs, and personnel of Delhi police, RAF and paramilitary forces were ensuring that people stay in queues and maintain law and order, a Delhi police official said.
