Cong urges Centre to give ex-gratia to the families of victims died standing in queues

Congress on Tuesday urged the Centre to provide compensations to the families of those who died while standing at long queues of ATMs and banks.

Taking a strong exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence in Parliament on the government’s demonetisation move, the Congress on Tuesday urged the Centre to provide compensations to the families of those who died while standing at long queues of ATMs and banks.

People stand in long queue at Punjab National Bank to change or deposit the Demonetization of 500 and 1000 banknotes was a step taken by the Government of India on November 21, 2016. (Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)

“The man used to work in a sabzi mandi. We felt bad when we met his family. This is not the first incidence. Two days ago, a similar incident took place. 55 people have died all over the nation. It is unfortunate that till now the Prime Minister has not spoken on this and he is not feeling it necessary to attend the Parliament,” Congress leader Ajay Maken told the media.

“We demand that the government should give compensation to all these families whose members have died while standing in long queues,” he added.

Maken earlier today visited the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital to meet the family of the deceased who died while standing in a queue at a government bank in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh area yesterday afternoon.

The two were standing in the queue when Sharma collapsed and fainted.

Though there is no official confirmation, the opposition parties are linking the death of more than 50 people to the demonetisation move.