Rahul Gandhi queues up at SBI branch to get notes exchanged

In order to express solidarity with the commoners, Rahul Gandhi queued up outside the SBI's Parliament Street branch to exchange old currency notes even as the Congress attacked the centre over demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and the resultant chaos.

"Gareeb vyakti ko kasht ho raha hai, mai yahan Rs 4,000 badalne aaya hoon (Poor people are facing hardship, I have come here to get Rs 4,000 exchanged)" Rahul said.

"Neither you (media), nor your crorepati owners nor the Prime Minister will understand the problems being faced by the people who were forced out of the bank," he said.

Finding a VVIP amidst them, the spot turned into a photo opportunity for many who vied with each other to take a selfie with the Congress vice-president.

Rahul obliged them with a smile as he interacted with the others standing in queue and listened to their woes. During the 40 minutes that he spent at the bank, many staffers too were seen clicking pictures of the leader.

Rahul repeated his suit-boot jibe to target PM Modi.

"Kya apko yahan koi suit boot pehne dikh raha hai, yahan par sab aam log hai jo pareshan hai, par Modi ji ko isse kya farak padta hai. (Can you see anybody here who is wearing a suit? They are commoners who are hassled. But how does that affect Modiji?)"  said Rahul.

There was some hustle and bustle at the venue due to the security detail of Rahul an Special Protection Group.

Party's Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi cited a notice outside the SBI branch located inside the parliament house complex wondering why only lawmakers and not other staff could exchange their old notes at the bank.