PM Narendra Modi's Mother Heeraben Visits Bank To Exchange Banned Rs 500 And 1,000 Notes

Gandhinagar: A day after he urged Indians to bear with him in the fight against corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 95-year-old mother Heeraben arrived at a bank in Gujarat's Gandhinagar to exchange banned currency notes.

In images that were seen to reinforce the prime minister's appeal to citizens forced to stand in long queues at banks and ATMs, his mother arrived in a wheelchair at a private bank near her home.

She waited her turn and was assisted by relatives as she walked in to swap Rs 4,500 in denominations of Rs 500.

Heeraben later posed with a brand new Rs 2,000 note handed to her. She was almost mobbed by reporters as soon as she stepped out.

Heeraben, also known as Hiraba, lives with her younger son Pankaj Modi. The PM last visited her on his birthday on September 17.

On Monday, PM Modi told a large gathering in Uttar Pradesh that he was aware of the difficulties faced by people, but they must be patient for 50 more days, for the larger good. "I am really pained by the inconvenience and that is why I am working tirelessly to help people overcome this situation," he appealed.

Millions across the country have been forced to spend hours trying to exchange or withdraw cash at banks and ATMs since the prime minister suddenly pulled out the two biggest currency notes from circulation last Tuesday. PM Modi said the tough step was necessary to bring out black or undeclared wealth stashed by the corrupt.

Over 45 billion dollars of old notes were deposited in banks in the first five days after the ban was announced.

To ease the crunch, the government yesterday increased the weekly cash withdrawal limit to Rs 24,000 and said upto Rs 4,500 worth of old notes can be swapped for new ones.  At ATMs, people can withdraw upto Rs 2,500 per card per day.