Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday described allegations of leaking of the demonetisation decision as “totally absurd and mischievous” and demanded to know from the Opposition parties whether they stand with the common men, “benefiting” from the step taken by the Modi Government, or “the corrupt and black money holders”.
The comments from Naidu came in the backdrop of the Congress, the AAP and some other Opposition parties accusing the Modi Government of “selectively leaking” information about its demonetisation plans to some people and “favourite” corporate houses.
Naidu, who is the Union Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting minister, said that parties who lived by “corruption” and “electoral malpractices” all these years, cannot make such “baseless allegations” against the Modi government.
By now people have come to know the character of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, adding they know that he will live up to the expectations of the people and to the election promise of rooting out corruption from public life.
“Parties who lived by corruption, opportunism, nepotism, greed, repression, electoral malpractices, self-seeking and sycophancy all these years, can’t make such baseless allegations against this Government,” he said.
“Instead of making constructive suggestions to help people overcome immediate inconveniences in drawing money, some parties are trying to cover up real intention of supporting corruption and black money in the name of hardship caused to people,” he alleged.
Naidu claimed that situation will become normal “very soon”. He sought Opposition to behave in a “constructive manner” and to convey their concerns instead of raking up a “malicious campaign”.
“Keeping in view the significant gains to the common man and the poor from the spirited actions of the governments, I would like to ask such parties to make it clear -If they are with the common man or with the corrupt and black money kings,” he asked
Stressing that any shortage in supply of currency is being taken care of by the Government, the minister said that a revolutionary or transformative step may have initial hiccups, but it gives long-term gains.
He said the demonetisation of higher currency notes had to be implemented with all secrecy as otherwise the people would have “taken care of” their ill-gotten wealth.
Naidu said Modi has also asked the army to provide helicopters and whatever is required to airlift the money to the places witnessing shortage of notes, besides utilising banking correspondents as well as the services of post offices.
Noting that there are 82,000 bank branches in the country and 2 lakh ATMs, he said the ATMS have to recalibrated with weight, size and denomination which is “being done”.
“The printing of currency takes time. RBI has explained to us that the printing process takes 21 days and then transporting currency notes from the place of printing to local branches of banks takes time,” Naidu said.
Meanwhile, hitting out at the Opposition, the BJP said while Prime Minister is working to curb black money and corruption with his demonetisation exercise, rival parties have “ganged up” against him.
Terming demonetisation as a ‘surgical strike’ on black money, BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma claimed that the general public is in support of the move and now it has taken a shape of “people’s movement”. He added that despite difficulties, the common man is supporting the decision.