Senior Cong leaders hit streets against demonetisation

The protesters led by Congress MP Ahmed Patel, party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, DPCC chief Ajay Maken and P C Chacko tried to march from Jantar Mantar to RBI's regional headquarters in Parliament Street but were stopped by police.

They alleged that the central bank has "failed miserably" in handling the situation post demonetisation and demanded the limit on bank and ATM withdrawal be lifted.

"The government cannot stop people from withdrawing their own hard-earned money. We are lodging a protest to tell the government and the RBI that the ceiling on withdrawal limit be lifted," Chacko told reporters.

"Congress workers staged similar protests in other cities in the country today," he said.

"We have been saying this for long that people are not being allowed to withdraw their hard-earned money. We are sending out a message which is loud and clear that the government must immediately lift the restriction," Maken said.

The Reserve Bank of India has raised the withdrawal limit from ATMs to Rs 10,000 per day per card from Rs 4,500. It has also increased the limit for withdrawal from current accounts to Rs 100,000 from Rs 50,000.