Many ATMs run dry in MP cities, towns

A large number of ATMs failed to dispense cash for the second consecutive day on Tuesday in several parts of Madhya Pradesh with the Congress accusing the BJP of hoarding money for the upcoming Karnataka polls.

A large number of ATMs were empty and there were long queues at others where cash was still available, putting the common man to inconvenience.

Senior Congress leader Ajay Singh said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) Central government was collecting Rs 2,000 notes to influence the May 12 Karnataka Assembly elections.

His statement came after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday called it a conspiracy, saying "certain persons are hoarding Rs 2,000 notes to cause a cash crunch".

Ajay Singh said: "Chouhan has termed it a conspiracy, so who is going to uncover this conspiracy and end it. Instead of telling the people this, the Chief Minister should ask the Prime Minister who is behind this."

The Chief Minister on Monday said: "When demonetisation was announced in 2016, there was Rs 15.50 lakh crore in circulation in the market. Now, this figure is Rs 16.50 lakh crore. Where are the notes of Rs 2,000 denomination going?"

State Finance Minister Jayant Malaya admitted to currency shortage but maintained that black marketing of Rs 2,000 notes could not be ruled out.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said in Delhi that "there is more than adequate currency in circulation", though "unusual demand" had led to cash shortage in some areas.

--IANS

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