Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday asked the Centre to allow high denomination currency for expenditure in upcoming marriage season, even as state police has been asked to keep vigil near banks to maintain law and order after the decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.
The chief minister also urged the Centre to ensure that the decision did not have any adverse impact on the poor, farmers and villagers.
Akhilesh, who is heading the Samajwadi Party government in the poll-bound state, said the Centre should arrange special camps in villages for exchanging existing currency notes saying banks were not easily accessible in the rural areas.
The opposition has termed the Centre's step as hasty and ill-timed coming in the season of harvest and marriages.
Uttar Pradesh police were alerted to maintain strict vigil near banks and other places to maintain law and order.
"Director General of Police Javeed Ahmad has issued directives to all district police chiefs stating that there may be serious law and order issues after the announcement.”
"Patrolling and visibility (of force) should be there at market areas, near banks, post offices," Additional Superintendent of Police in DGP office Rahul Srivastava said.
He said police officers have been directed to talk to traders bodies and petrol pumps and keep an eye on situation in rural areas.
The situation became difficult for commuters this morning with many petrol pumps closing down claiming that they were out of stock, while in shops, customers were turned away by traders, who were not ready to accept notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.
Police has been deployed at petrol pumps to control the crowd.
After the announcement caught people by surprise, long queues were seen at ATMs and petrol pumps last night.
