AMN / New Delhi

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi Friday visited SBI’s Parliament Street branch to exchange demonetised currency notes with new ones. While in queue he hit out at the government saying the people are facing problems due to the Centre’s move.

Attacking the Prime Minister, Mr. Gandhi said the government should be for the poor and not for just 15-20 persons.

The Congress vice-president said that he was standing in queue as the people were suffering while exchanging their demonetised Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes.

“There is no crorepati in the queue. Poor people are standing in queue for several hours. I want to say that the government should be for poor people and not for just 15-20 persons.

“People are facing hardships that’s why I have come to join them. I am here to exchange my Rs 4,000 with new notes,” the Congress vice-president told reporters in New Delhi.

“Neither you (reporters) nor your crorepati owners nor the Prime Minister will understand the problems faced by people,” Mr. Gandhi said.

The Congress leader, who reached the SBI’s Parliament House branch at around 4.25 p.m., waited for his turn in queue to exchange his old notes.

He also interacted with people standing in queue and listened to their troubles.

Many people took selfie with Mr. Gandhi. There was a huge crowd in the bank with people desperately trying to exchange old notes. They faced inconveniences as Mr. Gandhi reached there and some of people tried to catch a glimpse of him. Many bank staffers were also seen clicking pictures of Mr. Gandhi.

He was at the bank for about 40 minutes.

Since the announcement of demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, long queues have been witnessed outside the banks and ATMs with people desperately trying to exchange their old notes with new ones.

On the second consecutive day, Delhiites found it difficult in paying for household items, essential commodities and vegetables as they ran out of savings of small currencies.

BJP took a jibe at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over his visit to a bank for exchanging currency notes, the party has described it as merely a photo opportunity.

In a statement, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, Mr Gandhi’s visit to a bank in New Delhi only underlines the success of demonetisation move as privileged dynasties will now have to queue up and follow the law.