The horror stories just keep coming.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi stepped up the ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's decision to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. 

Entry of trucks into the national capital to be allowed only after midnight till January 31 in the wake of rising air pollution, Delhi LG orders.

The Modi government has finally announced that it will present the Union budget on February 1. The budget session may start in January.   

And another picture of the cakes/brownies packed and ready to be dispatched.

As stories of tired, hungry people waiting endlessly in queues outside ATMs and banks hog all the headlines across India, a small bakery in Mumbai, decided to do something about it.

Le 15 Patisserie tweeted this morning saying, @le15patisserie Kya aap kataar mein hai? Tweet us your ATM location, we might have cake for you!.

They then followed it up with pictures of their staff doling out individually packed chocolate brownies to people in the queue. Free.

Sure, they get publicity and may be customers (at some time in the distant future when Indians can withdraw money from their own bank account without skipping meals or waking up at 3 am.

A little something from an absolute stranger makes the wait a little better.

For those who want to dig into their macaroons and cakes, head to the Taj hotel at Colaba.

Mumbai's Marie Antoinette moment.

Due to the severe cash crunch being faced owing to the shortage of lower denomination notes following the demonetisation, the Maharashtra state education minister Vinod Tawde announced that the deadline for payment of Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam fees has been extended.


In an official press statement, Tawde said that there are 22 lakh candidates for SSC, HSC and they are facing problem in paying fees while filling exam forms.


Stating that he had received several complaints from students, their parents, teachers and even schools managements regarding this situation, he said that it has been decided to allow students to fill forms now and pay fees later.


"No student will have to miss board exams because they did not have change to pay towards exam fees. Students will get time till February to pay the fees," said Tawde.


Approximately 17 lakh students are set to appear for SSC exams while 14 lakh candidates will appear for HSC exams. Of these, most students of HSC have already filled exam forms and paid fees as the due date is coming to an end.

JDU leader Sharad Yadav says all opposition parties to meet again tomorrow to chalk out further strategy on demonetisation. The issue of demonetization will be raised in both houses tomorrow.

Omar Abdullah @abdullah_omar on PM Modi's mother exchanging currency notes at a bank in Gandhinagar: That's very humble of her. That having been said will the people who accused @OfficeOfRG of staging a PR event care to share views now???

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal slams PM Modi after pictures of his mother Heeraben exchanging old notes for new at a bank went viral.


Kejriwal tweeted, "Modiji has not done the right thing by making his mother queue up just to play politics. If one has to queue up I would queue up myself, not make my mother stand in a queue."

Prime Minister Narendra Modis mother Heeraben Modi visited a bank in Gujarat capital Gandhinahgar on Tuesday to exchange currency.

Nonagenarian Heeraben Modi, who had to use the help of a wheel chair and other people to reach the bank, exchanged Rs 4,500 in currency after filling the required forms.

Her decision to go to the bank to exchange her currency gives the government, run by her son, the much needed support and encouragement in the face of strident objections from some opposition parties such as the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, The Bahujan Samaj Party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Trinamool Congress.

It came on the day the Supreme Court is hearing several petitions challenging the governments decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Four public interest litigations have been filed against the controversial scheme, which has caused massive upheavals across the nation.

With reports of 25 deaths in the aftermath of demonetisation and the poor, marginalised millions barely able to meet basic necessities, BJP spokesperson Ram Madhav rubbished claims of hardship saying the patience of people queueing up outside ATMs and banks is a test of their patriotism.


Senior journalist and former colleague Ivan Crasto, not known to be unpatriotic, spent close to three-hours at the IC Colony branch of HDFC Bank in Mumbai for a demand draft.

The bank has run out of DD forms.

"It's my money and I can't use it," Ivan seethes.

 
When asked if he could come tomorrow, the bank officials told him, they were not sure if the forms would be available then.


A day before PM Modi dropped the demonitisation bomb on November 9, Ivan had withdrawn around Rs 50,000 -- the approximate fees for seven visas to Australia. "My tickets are booked for December 15 and I have to pay the fees to get the visa processing going," he says.

There are as many stories of Indians like Ivan -- upset, harassed, and frustrated -- who only ask for banking systems to function before their patriotism is called into question.   

The Maharashtra government will set up a Cabinet sub-committee to recommend measures to avoid inconvenience to people due to demonetisation. The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today. The sub-committee will take stock of the steps taken so far by the state and also recommend measures to ease inconvenience to the people.

At 3 am on Tuesday, Hareshwar Tandel woke up. Never in his life, he tells me, had he bathed so early, but he wanted to reach the bank early this morning.


"I reached the Bank of Maharashtra at 4.30 am, the first person in the queue. I drank three cups of tea by 8 am," he adds. "I have to go to work at 10 am."."I need money because there is a wedding in my sister's home, and I have to give her Rs 10,000," he says."For my son's wedding my sister had given me a Rs 50,000 loan and I have to return her money now. The marriage is on Saturday, November 19," Tandel adds. He had tried to withdraw money on Saturday, but failed to do so.


Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com meets the 1st person in the queue at a few ATMs in Mumbai.  Read

Kerala-based Federal Bank today claimed that it was one of the earliest in the country to dispense Rs 2,000 notes through its re-calibrated ATMs.

The Supreme Court refuses to stay the Centre's notification demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. The SC asks the Centre to file an affidavit giving details of steps taken to ease inconvenience faced by citizens. The court agrees with the Attorney General's contention that there will be "some collateral damage in a surgical strike against blackmoney". The SC without issuing notice to govt, posts the matter for further hearing on November 25.

As India deals with a massive cash crunch, indelible ink will be used at banks to mark those who have withdrawn new notes to ensure that people are not drawing more than their fair share, said Finance Ministry officials today.

-- Ratan Tata, who is in the midst of a bitter corporate boardroom battle with Cyrus Mistry meets Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.


-- Supreme court seeks Centre's affidavit on the issue on a PIL filed by various petitioners challenging the government's s demonetisation decision.


-- The SC refuses to stay the Centre's notification demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.  SC asks the Centre to file an affidavit giving details of steps taken to ease inconvenience faced by citizens.


-- The SC says the common man should not suffer.

PM Narendra Modi begins joint press statement with Israeli president  Reuven Rivlin. Excerpts...

"Excellency, your visit will provide crucial push to build new pillars in our partnership. The 2000-year old Jewish community in India represents a thriving link to this past, a vital part of our composite cultural mosaic.  Your visit provides an opportunity to break new ground and shape new contours of our partnership. We are committed to advance our engagement on several fronts," says PM Modi during the joint statement.


Israel President Reuven Rivlin:

-- Failure to act encourages terrorism.

-- Israeli companies can tie up with Indian flagship programmes like Make in India. 

-- Israel is ready to make in India and make with India.

--  Israel and India are threatened by terror because we uphold the values of freedom.

Sheila Dikshit's son-in-law sent to 2-day police custody by Delhi court in case of theft and misappropriation of wife's property.

Congress today discussed its strategy for winter session of Parliament starting tomorrow, where it is likely to forcefully take on the government on implementation of demonetisation and other issues.


The Congress leaders met ahead of an all-party meeting called by the government and another of opposition. Sources said during the meeting chaired by the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, top party leaders were of the view that implementation of demonetisation move along with its alleged leakage to BJP should be questioned in both houses of Parliament.


Congress leaders had yesterday alleged that prior information of demonetisation was given by the Prime Minister to his own party leaders and termed it as a "scam". Congress is seeking to corner the government on this issue and is trying to bring all opposition parties together. A meeting of many opposition parties with Congress leaders is slated today.

Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das briefs the media, and here's a very significant update on the demonetisation story.


The government has announced that indelible ink, which is used to mark voters, will be used at banks to mark those who have withdrawn new notes to ensure that people are not drawing more than their fair share, Finance Ministry officials today.


The same tactic is used to prevent multiple voting in elections. An ink stamp will be used after a person has exchanged Rs. 4,500 worth of old notes for new ones, the weekly limit set for now.


Das said the government has been trying to analyse reasons for long queues and it has been observed that the same people are coming again at the same places. The same reason is observed at ATMs that the long queues is because the same people keep coming again and again at different places, Das said.

"We have received reports that many people are trying to convert black money into white. To solve this problem we have decided to use indelible ink marks, similar to elections, on cash counters," he announced.

To ease pressure on banks,a task force has been set up to look after shifting and storing of old notes. A Special Task Force has also been set up to monitor infusion of fake currency especially in the vulnerable areas.

"We have enough stock of salts; no reason for temporary surge in price or shortage; supply of essential commodities being closely monitored, unscrupulous elements had spread rumours.

"False stories are being spread on social media such as institutions going on strike. On zooming the picture we found it was from 2015.  Lot of stories in social media; reports of certain institutions going on strike; there is no such thing; please don't believe them."

No reason to panic, enough supply of cash in the banks.

There is enough stock of notes available in system, no reason to panic. Govt constantly monitoring situation.

If you give us specific instances of which govt hospitals and pharmacies are not accepting old currency, action will be initiated.

-- as reported by ANI

JUST IN: Religious places receiving donations in smaller denominations are being urged to immediately deposit the same in banks to increase currency. PTI

In Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, PM Narendra Modi's mother Hiraba walks to the bank to exchange her currency notes. Heeraben Modi who was assisted by family members was taken to the bank in a wheelchair but was not given any preferential treatment. She had a few Rs 500 notes which she exchanged at the bank counter. Old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes can be exchanged till December 30.


Thousands of people lined up outside banks and ATMs across India on Tuesday, a day after a bank holiday left people stranded with no way to access cash or exchange money.

The queues in front of ATMs were longer as people feared the machines will run out of money soon, a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes to drain illegal cash from the economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that it will take another 50 days for normalization of currency usage in the country. As the government refused to consider a rollback, another report says currency normalisation may in fact take four months, and not 50 days as the government claims. So far, 25 deaths have been attributed to demonetisation.


As hard cash becomes scarce more people have resorted to plastic money. This has put enormous pressure on the payments' ecosystem which was seamlessly handling only a fraction of the crowd than what it is handling now.


Bankers say work on recalibration of ATMs for new currency notes had begun, but it would take more than a week to cover a substantial part of the network. Cash management companies reported filling up ATMs had been affected because bank staff were under pressure at branches.


An Economic Times report says traders in Delhi are contemplating shuttering their operations in a few days if there is no respite from the cash crunch, which has triggered a payment crisis and sparked heated arguments between farmers, who are offering perishables at half to one-third the price that prevailed last week, and traders, who don't have legal cash to pay.


Cash-strapped people started making beelines outside ATMs from early morning but with limited success as most of cash vending machines are running dry. Scuffles and heated exchanges were reported from ATMs and banks from many parts of the city, as patience of harried citizens wore thin.


Image: A Facebook post by Prasanna D Mudubage shows a vegetable vendor willing to accept debit or credit card payments. The authenticity of the picture has not been verified.

Donald Trump is committed to maintaining America's core strategic relationships, including NATO, outgoing President Barack Obama said today as he embarked on his last foreign trip while in office to reassure concerned allies after his successor's election.


"In my conversation with the President-elect, he expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships. And so one of the messages I will be able to deliver is his commitment to NATO and the Transatlantic Alliance," Obama told White House reporters here before leaving on a week-long three-nation trip.


"I think that's one of the most important functions I can serve at this stage, during this trip, is to let them know that there is no weakening of resolve when it comes to America's commitment to maintaining a strong and robust NATO relationship, and a recognition that those alliances aren't just good for Europe, they're good for the United States, and they're vital for the world," he said.


Obama would be travelling to Greece, Germany and Peru. "I look forward to my first visit in Greece. And then, in Germany, I'll visit with Chancellor Merkel, who's probably been my closest international partner these past eight years. I'll also signal our solidarity with our closest allies, and express our support for a strong, integrated, and united Europe," Obama said.

US President-elect Donald Trump is in the final stages of giving shape to his Cabinet and announcements in this regard could be made anytime this week, his aides indicated today.


The vice president-elect Mike Pence, who also heads presidential transition team, is arriving in New York today to hold meetings with Trump. "They'll be reviewing a number of names," Jason Miller, a transition communication advisor said.


"If the Vice President-elect is getting together with the President-elect to discuss names, then I would say that it's serious, obviously," Miller said.


Meanwhile, the American media was abuzz with speculations on potential Cabinet picks of Trump. The former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani along with the former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton was speculated to be in the race for being the Secretary of State. Other potential Cabinet picks being talked about are Senator Jeff Sessions, Senator Bob Corker and Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker to the US House of Representative.

President Barack Obama cautioned against dire predictions for Donald Trump's presidency Monday, saying his Republican successor faces a reality check if he tries to enact his most controversial campaign promises.


The outgoing Democratic leader made his comments at a wide-ranging news conference before he embarks on a farewell visit to Europe to reassure worried allies about a man he once warned was "unfit" to lead the United States.


Trump's election win last week over Hillary Clinton has been met with euphoria among his supporters, but also with a wave of protests across the nation that are unusual for the world's leading democracy.

The benchmark BSE Sensex crashed by over 344 points and the NSE Nifty dipped below 8,200-mark in early trade today as investors engaged in cutting down their bets amid rupee plunging by 42 paise. Moreoever, a mixed trend at other Asian markets too influenced the trading sentiment. The rupee dropped by 42 paise to trade at 67.67 against the US dollar in early trade today at the forex market.

US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin today spoke over phone for the first time and agreed on the need for jointly working to normalise "extremely unsatisfactory state" of ties between the two nations.


Putin "called to offer his congratulations on winning a historic election," according to a Trump statement. The two leaders discussed issues including shared threats, strategic economic issues and the historical US-Russia relationship.


The Russian President was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump last Wednesday, sending him a telegram about an hour after he had emerged the victor, but the two have not met nor had they spoken previously.

First lady Michelle Obama reflected Monday on the election results, declaring that regardless of politics Americans are "all on one team."


"I just want to take a moment to echo what my husband said last week about the results of our election," the first lady said during a speech on ending veteran homelessness in the East Room of the White House. "He said that we are all on one team -- not Democrats first or Republicans first, but we are Americans first. We're patriots first. "The first lady was hosting community leaders at the White House to discuss the issue of veteran homelessness as part of her "Joining Forces" Initiative," which she created in 2011 with Jill Biden to encourage nationwide support for service members, veterans and their families."I see people here who I imagine belong to all different parties, maybe no party at all. And when it comes to supporting our American heroes, none of that matters, because this is something that we can all agree on. Am I right?" the first lady asked the audience.The popular first lady was described by Democrats as Hillary Clinton's "not so secret weapon" on the campaign trail and held nine rallies for Clinton, with three stops in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina."Our love, our gratitude, our admiration for our men and women in uniform, our veterans and their families -- all of that is bigger than any one party or any one election," she said Monday. "And we need to continue coming together to do this vitally important work at every level of government -- from our cities and towns all the way up to right here in the White House. "

Overnight queues outside ATMs and banks have not eased a week after the government's 'surgical strike' on black money with the abolition of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. As reports of severe hardship and even death surface, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav reminded people about "patriotism" in difficult times.

"Test of patriotism is in difficult times only. We see it abundantly these days. Otherwise everyone is an armchair-patriot in normal times," Madhav tweeted.

In several public meetings since weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to bear with him for "50 days".

"I am aware you are facing difficulties... I understand the inconvenience," he said in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

"I am really pained by the inconvenience and that is why I am working tirelessly to help people overcome this situation."

A united opposition preps to target the government in parliament over what it calls the immense hardship for the common man, PM Modi told his party lawmakers at a strategy meeting in parliament that the country supports the move and the government need not be defensive.

While announcing the ban on the highest currency notes last Tuesday, the prime minister said tough measures were needed to bring undeclared wealth into the mainstream economy.

The government has announced measures to ease the crunch.

The weekly withdrawal limit from banks has been raised from Rs. 20,000 to 24,000. A network of banking agents, who travel to rural areas to provide people with access to banking services, will carry more cash.

The use of old notes has been extended till November 24 at government hospitals, private clinics, petrol stations and essential services.

The banned notes can be exchanged for new ones or deposited in a bank account until December 30.

The website and database of India's consulate in New York have allegedly been hacked by the same hacker who dumped data from seven Indian missions in Europe and Africa online last week.The hacker, who goes by the name Kapustkiy on Twitter, claimed responsibility for hacking the Indian consulate's website on Monday. Read more

Lambasting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for opposing the Centre's move to demonetise Rs. 500 and 1000 currency notes, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said the opposition has no concrete issues to raise or discuss, and therefore, is opposing for the sake of it.


"The opposition is opposing for the heck of opposing and i think their insecurity is very apparent because on the one hand, doing away with black money also means coming up with cleaner electoral processes. Those who are shying away from being honest are the only people who seem to have this discomfort, whether it's Arvind Kejriwal or Mamata Banerjee," BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI.She asked the chief ministers' to rise above of their personal agenda and think of national interest first.


Earlier, Kejriwal lashed out at Prime Minister Modi for cancelling the legal tender of Rs. 500 and Rs.1000 and asked the latter to roll back the move as this has caused great hardships to the common people.Mamata Banerjee on the other hand had dubbed the move "dangerous, disastrous, and draconian.

"Banerjee also said that the "anti-people, anti-poor government" at the Centre has no moral right to continue in power

Assuring that the panic among masses is on the decline following the more constant flow of cash at banks and ATMs, State Bank of India chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya stated that the bank will also start dispensing 50 and 20 Rupee notes in coming days to help the public.


Speaking to ANI, the SBI Chief stated that in all of their branches in the southern states, the workload has dropped to almost 50 per cent, which is a sure sign that people are assured that they will receive the money at their own convenience.


However, talking about the inconvenience caused to the masses with ATMs running out of cash soon, Bhattacharya added that ATMs are emptying out fast because it has a fixed space for notes of 100 and also the dimension of the new notes has changed, adding that the holding capacity in the ATM is confined.


"But what takes most time is manual recalibration. A person has to come and physically add the money when it runs out. We hope and are trying that we can sort of this problem by end of November. And if the chaos subsides by then, then we will also start dispensing 50 and 20 rupee notes in coming days," she said.


Meanwhile, the government has set up a special task force headed by Deputy Governor of RBI to expedite the process of re-calibrating the ATMs to make them fully functional, which will work with different banks in this direction.

There is an elementary piece of economic truth that remains unshaken since time immemorial. Put simply, it runs: "Nothing comes from nothing." Or, using economic jargon, there is a price to be paid to ensure any outcome that generates comfort. At the level of the individual, a decent dinner calls for a payment. At the level of society, weeding out black money from the system calls for hardships as well. To be borne by millions of innocent common men and women queueing up in front of ATM kiosks to withdraw measly sums of cash to try and satisfy their demand for daily essentials. According to reports, the hardship has been somewhat extreme, for one person at least is said to have collapsed as he waited for his Rs 2,000. And died, as non-resident Indians sitting in Japan were clapping and giggling away in vulgar merriment that the motherland they never intend to return to was being cleansed.
Read more

Banks across the country will reopen after a day's off today, and people started to form queues outside their gates since early morning to get their old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes exchanged.

Meanwhile, in the national capital, people in large numbers were seen waiting outside ATMs in the early morning hours. Many have been waiting since last night.

"I have to pay different people for wedding urgently. I am here in the queue while two of my brothers have lined up outside two different banks," said Sunil, who was waiting outside an ATM in Delhi's Bhajanpura are since last night.

"It's been three days. I come daily and return empty-handed. I've come with a hope today that I get money," said Mayadevi, who was also in the queue.

While some say they will come again tomorrow if they don't get money, some run out of patience soon.

"Modi ji says the poor are sleeping peacefully and the rich are taking sleeping pills, but look at us. The rich are in peace. They can simply throw money," said Bablu who joined the queue in the wee hours of Tuesday. -- ANI

The number of hate crimes reported to police increased by about 6.7 per cent last year, led largely by a 67 per cent surge in crimes against Muslims, according to FBI statistics released today.