In 'Taj City' Agra, tourists knocked over by demonetization

Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Nov. 11 (ANI): Tourists in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, have been left inconvenienced after the Indian government demonetised 500 and 1,000 rupee bank notes. Foreign tourists visiting Taj Mahal were caught off guard as ticket counters refused to accept their 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. Groups of foreigners were seen chipping in with change to buy tickets. "I cannot buy a ticket because the ticket counter told me that 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee notes do not work here. I don't know how, but I cannot find a way in India", said a Chinese tourist. Most foreign tourists were also unaware of the government decision and its intricacies. They also faced a problem exchanging currency as with both banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) shut; there was an acute shortage of 100 rupee notes. Domestic tourists also faced problems. "The problem is that we did not bring 100 or 10 rupee notes from our home. We came with just 500 and 1,000 rupee notes because of safety issues during the journey. We just have 500 and 1,000 notes. The government banned 500 and 1,000 rupees notes at night. Now, thousands of people are here, where will we go? What we will do? What will we eat at the hotel?" said a tourist, Vijay Patil. In a surprise announcement, the Centre withdrew the two of its largest currency notes at midnight on Tuesday in a bid to flush out money hidden from the taxman. The shock move was designed to bring billions of dollars worth of cash in unaccounted wealth into the mainstream economy, as well as hit the finances of militants who target India and are suspected of using fake 500 rupee notes to fund their operations. (ANI)