Demonetization: Long queues but no complains, Bharat Bandh virtually non-existent in PM’s home state Gujarat

Ahmedabad/Rajkot/Surat/Vadodara:

Long queues in front of several banks and ATM’s were seen across Gujarat right from the early morning today but surprisingly almost none complained of any big difficulty owing to demonetization caused ‘cash-crunch’.

Interestingly on the 20 th day post demonetization of old Rs 500/1000 notes today when banks opened after two days of weekend closure and a section of media trying hard to find ‘woe-ridden’ people to ‘prove their point’ against the otherwise popular decision and the divided opposition feeling embarrassed with the punctured Bharat Bundh call on the issue, commoners by and large seemed supporting the initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state as well.

Mehul Dave, standing in a long queue in front of a bank in Ashram road locality of Ahmedabad this morning also like most others in the queue says the difficulties are easing up.

Echoing the others including many senior citizens standing in the queue Mehul said, ‘The decision of the government was right and will bring fruit. It has certainly hit the black money holders and the commoners are bound to be benefitted. I have no complains about the move.’

Some of the electronic media representatives looked embarrassed when despite several attempts they failed to get any anti-government byte (statement) from the people in the queues which went contrary to their on-screen claims about commoners hardships.

In Rajkot, D A Chikani, a senior citizen who retired from a public ltd company last year, was also part of a long queue in front of an ATM but was not bitter about the demonetization move. ‘Let some fools create the uproar, the commoners understand fully well that it is for their good and the good of the country. If we bear with the little difficulty that accompanies such a vital decision, good days won’t be too far ahead,’ he said.

Akhlaq, a college going youth, in Vadodara, said, ‘My mother withdrew Rs 24 thousand from the bank with cheque and it is sufficient for us for almost a month by when things will certainly ease up owing to fresh arrival of cash. I have no complaints. Let the country move ahead in a non-corrupt manner. I am also moved by the appeal of the PM to the youths to assist him in making the drive against corruption successful. I am going to teach net-banking and other relating digital things that I myself know to my elders.’

In Parle Point area of Surat city, Ashish Desai, a middle aged businessman said, ‘ Despite some practical problems no body is bothered about what the opposition parties are saying about demonetization. We all know that it is a good move and the PM has not taken this bold step for himself. He has risked his party’s prospects for the good of the nation and giving the coming generations a better way of life. Everybody is with him on this issue.’

Meanwhile, the Bharat Bundh called by left parties today on the issue, from which Congress and JD(U) had distanced themselves, has almost no effect whatsoever in Gujarat. Life is normal in the state. Congress is however organizing various sit-ins and other demonstrations.

DeshGujarat