Long queues again as banks open after 3 days, but still people favouring demonetization

Correspondent, Ahmedabad: Long queues and chaotic scenes again appeared today in front of banks and ATM’s across Gujarat as the banks opened after three days of continuous closure.

Many people also looked peeved at the non acceptance of credit cards and debit cards by swipe machines at various places.

The long lines of commoners which had diminished a great deal mostly in cities a few days ago owing to many people adopting digital mode of payments and the life style with less-cash, again were seen in front of banks and ATM’s.

Though people mostly still looked favouring demonetization decision of the government yet they were somewhat cynical about the arrangements to deal with it and banking system even after the expiry of 34 days post its announcement ie on the 35 day.

Meanwhile people standing in long queue today created ruckus in front of Dena bank in Halvad town of Morbi district as it ran out of cash. Police resorted to mild baton charge to control the unruly mob.

Similar chaotic scenes were seen at some other places also. In Godhara town of central Gujarat people looked perplexed owing to the non-functional ATM’s despite the opening of banks post three days closure.

A local resident Vinayak Shukla said that people are still with the government on demonetization issue but something should be done to lessen their woes. At least everyone should get some cash for day to day use easily, especially in the areas where digital banking is still a distant dream.

People at many places today again looked suspicious about the bankers. ‘Now that large amount of cash is being seized from various places, our doubt about the corrupt bankers and their involvement in it has been proved,’ a residence of Ghatlodia, standing in the queue in front of the KK Nagar road branch of SBI said adding that he still doubt that the bankers are giving the cash to the powerful and corrupt ones from the back doors while the common people is suffering in long queues in front of it.

An account holder in front of the Naranpura branch of the Bank of India near Ankur crossroads said he has failed to understand as to why the long queues are so recurrent. ‘There are only 15 days left to the deadline of December 30, but there seems to be no respite. We don’t know when will it all end,’ he said.

‘It will take quite some time for people to adopt the digital ways and the spread of such infrastructure in distant areas. So I think we should be ready to suffer for days beyond December 30. Unless the people go digital the queues are bound to be there,’ he said.

DeehshGujarat