I support cashless economy, demonetisation was poorly planned, says Puducherry CM Narayanasamy at South Conclave
At the India Today Conclave South, Narayanasamy hits out at the Modi government saying that the demonetisation was implemented without any preparation.
Questioning the Narendra Modi government over note ban, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said that demonetisation was 'thinking in right direction' but much more needed to be done.
Narayanasamy said, "I am not against demonetisation. Thinking is in the right direction, but the question is can India do it in one go? Where is the infrastructure? There are just 2.14 lakh ATMs for 130 crore population."
Narayanasamy hits out at the Modi government saying that the demonetisation was implemented without any preparation.
"Demonetisation has not been done by taking all aspects into consideration. It was not planned properly, not discussed properly and not implemented properly," the Puducherry Chief Minister said at the India Today Conclave South in Chennai.
He rejected the argument that those opposing demonetisation were supporting black money. "We are against black money. People holding black money should be booked. But, the way demonetisation has implemented has created problems for many especially the farmers and small traders," Narayansamy said.
Replying to query about the Centre's push for making Puducherry as the model state for cashless transactions, Narayansamy admitted that there were differences between the home ministry and the Puducherry government.
To push cashless transactions in Puducherry, the home ministry reportedly gave certain directions to the chief secretary of Puducherry via video-conference, to which Narayansamy objected.
"I wrote to the Prime Minister and said don't try to impose any of your policies on our government until we agree to it," Narayansamy said.
The Puducherry CM further said that after he raised the matter with the PM, the video-conferencing stopped.
WHAT ELSE DID HE SAY: THINGS TO KNOW
- Narayansamy said, "Puducherry has lost commercial tax upto 30 per cent for November and December after demonetisation was announced."
- "Farmers are the worst affected by demonetisation. Earlier, they used to take loan from cooperative societies. Now they cannot do so. The Centre has asked the farmers to buy seeds from government stores. But where is the money available," asked Narayansamy.
- Narayanasamy said that only "2 per cent people in the country use cashless transactions while 70 crore people don't have bank accounts."
- On the question of tussle with Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, Narayansamy said, "There are established rule do run the government. I don't disturb anybody I don't want to be disturbed by anybody," while maintaining that the two are not rivals but take everything in "right spirit".
- Responding to a question about comparison between former prime minister Manmohan Singh and present PM Modi, Narayansamy said, "Prime Ministers are Prime Ministers. Chief Ministers have to work in coordination with the Government of India. When we coordinate with the government, the states will progress. We have to work with the Centre."