Can you imagine an Indian currency note without the picture of Mahatma Gandhi on it?
While reports of fake currency notes have surfaced since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his decision to demonetise, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes this is something new. Public sector bank, the State Bank of India issued the farmers of a small village in Madhya Pradesh Rs 2000 currency notes without Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait on it.
Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh): Farmer receives Rs 2000 notes from SBI Bank without Mahatma Gandhi’s image pic.twitter.com/To8yiFIFxq
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 5, 2017
Yes, new currency notes have been issued since the demonetisation drive. However, every note that the Reserve Bank of India issues will have Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait printed on it. All the bank notes carry Mahatma Gandhi’s water mark and portrait on the front side.
According to reports, the bank has claimed that the notes are “genuine” and it was only a “printing error”.
Some of the farmers who received such notes did not take note of something missing on it but were only notified by the market vendors. After which, they approached the bank and questioned the authenticity of the new currency notes.
The bank officials apparently did accept the notes back but did not hand over any new note in return.
While some of the Twitteratis fumed over the irresponsibility some had their own share of fun claiming what Gandhiji might want to imply:
MP farmers get ₹2,000 notes in which Mahatma Gandhi’s is picture missing. Fake/printing lapse or Bapu walked out? https://t.co/YUaVkAik2a
— Kanchan Srivastava (@Ms_Aflatoon) January 5, 2017
A farmer in MP received Rs 2000 notes from SBI without Mahatma Gandhi’s image. Wonder what Gandhi is trying to convey… _ pic.twitter.com/DiSEbXdW0F
— Wordicted (@uroosaayman11) January 5, 2017
Hilarious and sad at the same time. @RBI has become a joke @suchetadalal @sonaliranade @r0h1n @BalakrishnanR @b50 @amphaa @aqua_micky https://t.co/hS2rp3LRRP
— Kaustubh Agashe (@kaustubh_agashe) January 5, 2017
Counterfeit notes will not exists claimed Modiji. Farmer in MP gets 2K note sans Gandhiji picture. If this is not disaster, then what is? pic.twitter.com/3kp1eAgYhq
— Naren Raj Purohit (@Narenpurohit) January 5, 2017
Following the footsteps of Dhoni, Now Mahatma Gandhi steps down pic.twitter.com/f4mGflr4qU
— Tiilooo (@CineMaakiKasam) January 5, 2017
Several reports have been emerging since Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. It was found sone of the fake currencies that were circulated were not only photocopies of the new Rs 2000 note.
As per a report, a paan shop owner in Bodakdev in Gujarat has found a fake note which had the Gandhi watermark next to the national emblem as well as a fake security thread.
