Calling for transparency in the funding of political parties, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that donation sources of an amount as little as Re 1 should be disclosed.
Talking about the Election Commission's proposal to bring an amendment to laws to make political parties reveal donations above Rs 2,000 from anonymous sources, Kumar said, "it's good and an amendment should be made in laws".
"Why only Rs 2,000 and above? Parties should reveal who has given even Re 1 or Rs 10 to it," he said.
He, however, expressed doubt if the BJP-led NDA government would bring an amendment to this effect.
The Election Commission has urged the government to amend laws to ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2,000 and above made to political parties so that flow of blackmoney in polls could be checked.
He was talking to reporters after the second "Lok Samvad" (dialogue with people) programme held in his Secretariat.
In the programme, Kumar in the presence of ministers concerned and senior officials of the departments which have been earmarked date-wise, addresses grievances of the people.
The Lok Samvad is organised on the first three Mondays of the month except if the date coincides with any festival or gazetted holiday. It could not be held on December 12 due to the holiday on 'Eid-e-Milad'.
Will give point-by-point analysis of note ban after December 30: Nitish Kumar
Speaking on Centre’s demonetisation decision, Nitish said the move was not enough to root out black money and that he will come out with a "point-by-point" analysis of the note ban after December 30.
Kumar, who has been stressing the need for a launching a crackdown on benami properties and prohibition along with demonetisation, said it is "not possible to transform the country into a cashless economy".
"My stand has been very clear. Only demonetisation cannot root out black money. It should be coupled with a simultaneous attack on benami properties... land, real estate, gold and diamond and liquor ban to yield results," he told reporters.
Asked to comment on the situation 40 days after the decision to scrap high-value notes was announced by the Prime Minister, Kumar said he will come out with a "point-by-point study after the 50-day period comes to an end".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while announcing the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8 had said it will lead to some inconvenience for the initial 50-day period.
"I had supported demonetisation on November 9... But on November 16, I had highlighted the poor implementation of the move," he said.
Kumar, who was flanked by his deputy Tejaswi Yadav and minister Ashok Choudhary, said it not possible to transform the country into a cashless economy.
"Dealing in cash is a habit of the common man. A cashless economy is not possible," he said and claimed that even in the US about 40-50 per cent of transactions are made in cash.
Asked about Mamata Banerjee denouncing Rahul Gandhi for meeting the PM when Opposition is attacking him over demonetisation, Kumar said, "It's between the two parties. I cannot say anything about it."
Replying to a question over the appointment of Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief superseding two seniors, Kumar said the Army and Judiciary should be kept out of any controversy.
"I do not know much about it as I am busy with preparation of celebration of 350th Prakash Parva anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. But institutions like Army and judiciary should be kept out of any controversy," he said.
The chief minister also favoured filling vacancies of judges for speedy delivery of justice.
(With PTI inputs)
