Akhilesh steals Modi's thunder by announcing compensation for people dying in bank queues

Announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Raziya Begum of Aligarh, who had committed suicide after being unable to exchange her old notes at the bank, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that his government sympathises with those who were losing their lives due to the gross financial mismanagement caused in the country by the abrupt demonetisation and the families of anyone who lost his or her life due to this cause, will be compensated by Rs 2 lakh by the UP government.

Commenting on the central government, Akhilesh said that the innocent people have lost their lives because of demonetisation move by the central government.

Samajwadi Party City President Raisuddin told India Today, that Raziya Begum, wife of Aligarh labourer Akbar Hussein had been standing in the bank line for 4-5 days to get six Rs 500 notes exchanged, but could not succeed in doing so. She was severely discouraged because of that and set herself on fire. Admitted in the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi in critical condition, Raziya passed away yesterday. Considering the weak economic situation of Raziya's family, the UP CM has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for them on humanitarian grounds.

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Raisuddin said that the Modi government is not at all concerned about the deaths that are taking place due to demonetisation all over the country. UP CM has condemned the central government for taking a decision that has made people line up at banks for days at a time in order to withdraw their own money from the banks.

Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad National President Sami Aghai told India Today that it was the central government's responsibility to provide at least Rs 5 lakh in aid to the families of the people who were dying due to demonetisation. He said that there is a long list of people who have died in the braj region directly or indirectly due to demonetisation, most of whom have either committed suicide or the strain of continuously standing in lines for several days has taken its toll on their lives.

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He said that already people have started protesting openly against this decision and if the situation does not improve within a week, Modi government could be looking at some major scenes of public unrest against it because the patience of the people is now giving way.

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