Chandrababu Naidu unhappy over continued hardships due to demonetisation

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a partner in BJP-led NDA Union government, said it was unfortunate that people continue to face the hardships.

Vijayawada, Nov 20 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday expressed his unhappiness over the difficulties people continue to face even 12 days after demonetisation of high value currency notes.

He said he never witnessed in his political career this situation where a problem remained unresolved for such a long time.

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a partner in BJP-led NDA Union government, said it was unfortunate that people continue to face the hardships.

At a meeting held here Sunday to review the situation in the wake of demonetisation, he noted that from a poor to a rich man, people belonging to all sections of the society were affected.

Naidu, who had long been demanding demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes and had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, said the authorities should make alternate arrangements to provide immediate relief to people.

He reviewed the situation with district collectors, officials of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and the finance department through a video conference.

The Chief Minister said in this crisis all officials concerned should work in close coordination to ease the hardships faced the people. He suggested to all banks to set up call centres to address the people's problems.

Naidu said he was informed by the RBI that out of Rs 2,000 crore made available to the state, Rs 400 crore was in the form of Rs 100 notes.

The Chief Minister directed officials to link Jan Dhan accounts with Rupay cards, and that all transactions of the state government should be cashless.

Directing the banks to work in coordination, he said police should take adequate steps to prevent any law and order problems.

IANS