Bharatiya Janata Pary and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday fully supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the demonetisation issue at an NDA meeting as the Government asserted that there was no question of “a rethink” on the major step of demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency.
Modi told his party and NDA allies there was no need to be defensive on the issue or buckling under Opposition pressure. He said the credit for demonetisation would not go to him personally, but to all parties which stood with the Government, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said after the conclusion of discussions.
“Mood of the nation is in favour of Modi Government, everyone agreed that it is a historic decision, temporary pain for larger gain”, he said.
He said allegations levelled by Opposition on demonetisation were baseless and would be answered “at the appropriate time”. Naidu said in the Parliament “we will get to know which people are on the side of black money hoarders.”
NDA also passed a resolution praising PM Modi’s decision for currency swap by scrapping existing Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes and extended their support to him.
BJP Parliamentary Party executive meet, attended by all key leaders, was also called in where the Prime Minister said “people are with us” on the black money issue and those protesting will not get any support.
Modi said country welcomed demonetisation and “we should not buckle under Opposition pressure and go ahead full throttle”. “Opposition is trying to sabotage”, he said.
The meet of the BJP National Executive and NDA was called to chalk out strategy for the Winter Session of Parliament starting on Wednesday with the Opposition keen to target the Government over issues like demonetisation and One-Rank, One-Pension.
The BJP is confident that the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes had “generated a positive public mood” but was also wary of inconvenience caused to the common men who have been queueing up for hours outside banks and ATMs for cash. The Congress, left, TMC, SP and BSP among others have been targeting the Government for allegedly causing problems to average men who are not getting cash in the ATMs.
In a clear indication that the BJP would aggressively tackle the Opposition in the Parliament on the issue, party president Amit Shah had attacked Opposition parties, saying they were against an exercise which had rattled those dealing in black money, fake currency, narcotics and such activities.
At the NDA meet, after the introductory remarks by the Prime Minister, Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan congratulated him on the “bold and decisive” step to demonetise high denomination
currency notes. He said it would help reduce the rich-poor divide in the country. Paswan was followed by all other allies who supported the move and lauded the PM for the step, besides the surgical strikes across the loC.
The leaders who supported the Government include Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul, lJP leader Ramvilas Paswan, SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, RlSP leader Upendra Khushwaha and TDP’s Thotha Narsimam, besides those from north eastern parties.
“The NDA constituents told the Prime Minister that they will stand by him till the fight against corruption is taken to its logical end. They also appreciated the steps taken by the Finance Ministry to extend help to the people in solving inconvenience cause by the demonetisation decision,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said.
He said, “The session will be a befitting forum to tell people about the crusade against corruption and will show which party favours corruption and which is against it.”
He said all NDA partners welcomed the move “in one voice” and supported the decision of the Government and the Prime Minister to weed out corruption.
Kumar said black money was also being used for anti-India activities and terrorism.
Naidu said “false propaganda” was being spread to derail the reform process and gave the example of rumours about salt scarcity. He said while the total salt production was 220 lakh tonnes, the domestic consumption was only 60,000 tonnes and thus there was no shortage.