Demonetisation: Govt asks FinMin to direct banks allowing diplomats money withdrawal on priority basis

New Delhi: Taking note of foreign missions in India facing difficulties in withdrawing adequate money post demonetisation, the Finance Ministry has been asked to direct banks to allow diplomats to withdraw money on a priority basis.

"The Ministry of External Affairs has received communications from some embassies about the problems they face in the context of the demonetisation of high value notes," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here. 

"With a view to avoid inconveniencing their operations, the ministry has been in discussion with concerned authorities in the government on this matter," he stated.

"The Finance Ministry, as a consequence, is being asked to issue directives to banks to allow embassy officials with identity cards to withdraw money on a priority basis."

On Wednesday, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in India and Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Frank Castellanos said that Rs 50,000 cap a week for the operation of an embassy was not enough.

Citing the Vienna Convention, he said that diplomats could not be stopped from accessing their funds and a solution to this was needed soon.

With IANS Inputs