Fijians in India are now facing the brunt of a new law passed by the Indian Government banning the 1000 and 500 rupees.
An exclusive investigation by Fiji One News, has revealed many students and patients are now finding it difficult to buy food and medicine, because they are not allowed to exchange their rupees.
Vishal Goundar who has returned from India last week says in an email to Fiji One News, the experience in the last few days he spent in India was tragic.
He says “Nobody is helping us, some of them (Fijians) aren’t able to purchase necessary items like groceries, clothes and medicine”
Goundar also in the email tell us, banks have been rude to them when they went to exchange their money.
Speaking from India, Susan Raddock who is from Nadi, has taken a friend to India’s Batra Hospital says they have in their possession over FJD$1,000 , which is 40,000 rupees which are in the 500 and 1000 rupee notes.
“We are not allowed to change the money, and this was because us being being foreigners, as we were told from the banks. They only doing it for Indian nationals, so presently our problem is that we have 100 and 500 rupee notes which we cant change, to new notes.”Susan Raddock.
Raddock also tells us, banks have been rude to them and said they were not Diplomats hence they wouldn’t be allowed to exchange their cash.
“Well we have no cash, which makes us unable to purchase food, and some of them(Fijians) cant buy medicine because they cant use the old notes.”Susan Raddock.
Vishal Goundar has also shared his painful experience saying “We go out everyday to line up in front of banks almost 7 hours for the last 3 days only to be told, that the new bills have run out and no money will be exchanged for people on medical or tourist visas.”
Fiji One News has sought answers from the Fijian High Commission from India, but we are yet to receive any correspondence.
The Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal told Fiji Ones News, banks in India should be accepting the notes from Fijians.