Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has once again dropped ample hint of a deviation from his alliance partners RJD and Congress in the state.
Speaking at an event in the capital on Tuesday, Kumar termed the demonetisation drive a ‘bold’ decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that the Centre must tell people about ‘good results’ of scrapping high-value currency notes.
"We (JD-U) took an in-principle stand and supported the Centre's demonetisation move and welcomed it as the intention was right...Prime Minister had sought 50 days, and now 77 days have passed. PM should tell the people of the country about the good results of the demonetisation drive. People are waiting," Kumar said.
"It is our (JD-U) demand that the Centre should tell the good results of demonetisation," the JD(U) national president said.
"I think the intention behind demonetisation was right. What is the harm if hidden unaccounted wealth comes back into the system through deposit in banks?" he said justifying his support.
Kumar also asked the Centre to tell the people about the total amount of black money, out of the total money that has returned to the system.
The JD(U) core committee had on Monday decided to maintain its earlier stand to support currency scrapping but speak against 'poor arrangements' in its implementation.
Kumar said that those working in the unorganised sector were particularly suffering from lack of jobs due to demonetisation and demanded that the Centre compensate them.
Asserting that he took a principled stand on demonetisation, Kumar said that 'it unfortunately triggered political speculation about him inching closer to BJP’, with which he had broken ties in June 2013.
"I speak my mind whenever I think that the issue is right ...People had difficulties and hardships due to inappropriate preparations of the government to carry the drive for 50 days. Notwithstanding difficulties faced, the people rejoiced that the exercise has hit hard those who have amassed huge assets illegally...More or less, this is my thinking too," he said.
With PTI Inputs
