Nitish Kumar supports demonetisation, dismisses fissures in coalition

Nitish Kumar dismissed reports of "confusion or fissures" in the grand alliance in Bihar over the demonetisation issue

Patna, Nov 25: Reiterating his support to the Centre's demonetisation decision, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday described the move as a "courageous step" even as he admitted that "poor arrangements" in its implementation were causing hardship to the common man.

He also dismissed reports of "confusion or fissures" in the grand alliance in Bihar over the demonetisation issue. Kumar described the Centre's demonetisation decision as "sahsik" (courageous), which, he said, would help in the fight against black money.

However, the attack on black money would yield better results only when scrapping of notes is coupled with attack on benami properties and prohibition, the chief minister said. "While supporting demonetisation in principle, I, with equal strength, criticise the poor arrangements for its implementation due to which common man is facing hardship," Kumar, who is also the JD(U) National President, said.

"I am seeing a minus with plus whereas many others are seeing only minuses," he said. "See the speech of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament yesterday. Nowhere did he denounce the spirit of demonetisation but highlighted monumental mismanagement in carrying it out," he said.

Also read: OneIndia survey: Majority feel govt was not prepared after demonetisation

"This is the view of almost every party, even those opposed to it, and everybody is referring to improper arrangements to carry out demonetisation," he said and sought to know "how is my stand different from others on the issue?"

Rubbishing reports of "confusion or fissures" in the grand alliance due to the divergent views of alliance partners Congress and RJD on the issue, Kumar said, "The grand alliance is only in Bihar and on issues concerning Bihar. On issues outside the state every party is privy to its own viewpoint...there is no confusion or fissures in coalition".

The Bihar Chief Minister had first favoured the Centre's demonetisation decision while addressing a 'Chetna sabha' at the start of his second leg of 'Nishchay yatra' in Madhubani on November 16.

PTI