ATMs run dry: Cruel reminder of demonetisation days, says Mamata

Kolkata: With ATMs running out of cash in several states, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack at the Centre by asking "Is there a Financial Emergency going on in the country?"

Banerjee, who was the first to raise her voice when the high-value notes were demonetised on November 8 in 2016, tweeted on Tuesday: "Seeing reports of ATMs running out of cash in several States. Big notes missing. Reminder of #DeMonetisation days. Is there a Financial Emergency going on in the country? #CashCrunch #CashlessATMs".

There were reports of cash crunch from several states, mainly Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Bhopal, Surat and Hyderabad, leading to unnecessary harassment of common people.

There have also been reports of cash crunch in certain parts of Bengal as well. A large section of people from some areas of both South and North Bengal districts have raised the allegation of non-availability of cash in ATMs.

People from all walks of life are facing trouble when they are finding the "funds unavailable" board hanging in front of the teller machine in an ATM counter, but the worst affected are those with ailing and elderly people at home, as they need to withdraw money quite often for medical purposes.

It may be recalled that Banerjee was the first to criticise the move of the Centre in demonetising high-value notes. Interestingly, the main purpose behind demonetisation of high-value notes, as stated by the Centre, remained "unfulfilled" as after 10 months, RBI had come up with a report that 99 percent of the demonetised currency had found its way back to the banking system.

Banerjee had also criticised the Centre for its hasty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). She termed the demonetisation and hasty implementation of GST as "double selfish taxation" on the people of India.

She had also held the Centre responsible for the harassment that the common people had passed through, at the period when there was acute cash crunch soon after demonetisation was announced.

Banerjee also tweeted on Tuesday in connection with the resignation of special NIA judge Ravinder Reddy, citing a personal reason, a few hours after the verdict in the Mecca Masjid blast case. She tweeted: "NIA judge resigned. What does this mean? Justice is silent. And are the accused golden?"

The court on Monday acquitted all five involved in the case, including Hindutva preacher Swami Aseemanand, holding that the prosecution has failed to prove "even a single allegation" against them.