'Scrapped Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes should be accepted

Swaraj India today demanded that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes be allowed to use universally, not just at petrol pumps and in paying public utility bills, till December 31.
Sticking to its support for demonetisation, the fledgling political party led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan said the government was "ill-prepared" in executing the measure.
"Exemption currently granted to petrol pumps and government entities etc. For a few days should be extended to everyone till December 31. Till then, the public should be free to use the old notes for every transaction," it said in a statement.
It said banks and ATMs were wilting under pressure as the government had not printed and transported enough bank notes of the new series and had not planned for non-calibration of ATM machines.

"The experience of the first five days of the implementation of this scheme has confirmed some of the worst fears and calls for an immediate revision in the scheme.
"While the announcement took the ordinary people by surprise, the powerful persons, especially those close to the ruling party, had a fair clue and had made huge deposits in anticipation of this announcement," it added.