Nitish again praises PM Modi for demonetisation of high denomination currencies

Law Kumar Mishra

Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Friday again praised PM Narendra Modi for his “bold” (Sahasik) decision to ban high
denomination currency notes. On the opening day of the winter session of Bihar legislature here, Nitish said PM has taken a bold step
to check black money.
Later, both Nitish and his deputy Tejeshwi Yadav clarified there were no differences between the RJD and JD(U) and Grand Alliance was intact. The CM said this decision will help the country in all fields and help create a black money free economy. Nitish had earlier said PM was riding a tiger by taking the historic decision against black money.
Congress had reacted strongly to Nitish’s comments and his education minister Ashok Chaudhury, who is also the president of Bihar Pradesh Cognress Committee (BPCC), had warned the Congress may pull out of the Grand Alliance government led by Nitish. Chaudhury had led a protest march against PM’s decision from Kargil square to Dak Bungalow road here. He said Congress
joined the alliance on direction from Rahul Gandhi who is now leading the movement against the government’s sudden decision which led to deaths of 75 people outside ATMs and banks.
RJD president Lalu Prasad, also a partner in the Grand Alliance, had also reacted strongly against CM’s comments and said 75 people have been “murdered” and PM should tell who was responsible for it. Lalu claimed he too was against black money but Narendra
Modi’s decision taken in haste and without application of mind has disturbed the normal life in the country, farmers are hit and poor daily wagers are affected. They are not getting even food, he said. Lalu said the PM should pay compensation to the families of those who died for want of money in last two weeks. Both rabi and paddy crops will be hit in absence of fertilisers, he feared.
Nitish’s repeated statements praising PM Narendra Modi on demonetisation is being seen as an attempt of the chief minister to boost his `clean’ image despite being in the company of the Congress and RJD, according to his supporters here.