Those promoting corruption are unhappy: MoS
SHILLONG: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday only those who are generating black money and promoting corruption in the country are having problems with the Government’s decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and the “good citizens” are bearing with the change.
The statement comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “surgical strike” on black money has drawn flak from Chief Minister Mukul Sangma who had called the decision insensitive. The Union Minister on Thursday was answering to a question about Sangma’s remark after the Centre’s announcement on Tuesday.
Addressing media persons in the city on Thursday, the Union MoS said, “When people are having serious problems, the treatment will have to be severe and people will face inconvenience initially.”
But certain provisions have been made and relaxations have been introduced so that people are not harassed, he added.
On the efficacy of the move, Rijiju said the Centre’s move will not only check corruption and black money but will stop funding of terror organisations and circulation of fake Indian currency notes (FICN). “As the Home Ministry has been facing the problem of terrorism for a long time, the Government’s decision has dealt a body blow to those people who supply fake Indian currency notes, besides funding terror groups,” he said.
Reacting to a query about neighbouring Bangladesh from where FICN is often circulated to India, Rijiju said the current regime in Bangladesh is doing their best to ensure that no anti-Indian activities take place there. “There are certain elements in Bangladesh who are involved in anti-India activities but the government there is doing everything to stop the menace,” he said.
The MoS pointed out that the Centre has asked all the banks to go deeper into the North East region to reach out to the people and even the Reserve Bank of India has taken a decision to ensure that bank branches are opened in the remotest corners of the country.