ATMs in Parliament House too running dry

The ripple effects of demonetisation has not spared the high-security Parliament House complex too. On Thursday, the second day of the Winter Session, ATMs went dry at Parliament House, causing intense disappointment among those lined up in the queue.

Hoping to get hold of much-needed cash, many people, mostly Parliament staff, security officials and some journalists, queued up at the two ATMs in Parliament House in the afternoon. But their wait turned futile as the cash vending machines were not refilled during the day.

Hoping the ATMs would be replenished in the evening, people again queued up but yet again they were left dejected.

"The RBI and the office of the Prime Minister are situated just a few yards from here, but even then they couldn't provide cash. Imagine the situation in ATMs outside Parliament," said a man frustrated over his wait going in vain.

Later at the Central Hall, a union minister talking to reporters, quipped "Only when the government has money will it fill the ATMs."

Section of BJP MPs unhappy with demonetisation

While publicly they are heaping lavish praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's step to fight corruption and black money through demonetisation, a section of the ruling BJP leaders, including MPs, are unhappy with the government's move.

A meeting of party MPs called by Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah to discuss ways of promoting and endorsing demonetisation in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh (UP) and the adjoining states, was cancelled at the eleventh hour, following apprehensions that a section of the MPs may express their displeasure over the move.

According to sources, the meeting that was to be held on Wednesday was called off after apprehensions were raised that certain MPs may express their displeasure in front of Shah.

At least three of the MPs, admitted privately to IANS, that they were not happy with demonetisation and said they had to face the backlash of people in their respective constituencies. They said people were even coming to their houses to complain about the lack of availability of cash and the pains they had to undergo to get their money exchanged in banks.

While Shah proposed that banners and posters endorsing demonetisation and hailing Prime Minister Modi for the "bold move" be put up in Uttar Pradesh, the MPs got cold feet fearing it may backfire.