It’s a long war on black money: Nitish
A good game should see an even contest between bat and ball.
Let the opening batsmen negotiate the fast bowlers on green tops. It (current Team India) will always be the best, and soon the rest of the world will also rate them the best.
SACHIN TENDULKAR, former Indian cricket captain NEW DELHI: The recall of highvalue currency won’t curb illegal incomes unless the government enforces a nationwide ban on drinking and cracks down on properties registered in fake names as both of these practices thrive on black money, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday.
At the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, the Bihar leader also said his support for the government’s move to scrap `500 and `1,000 notes was driven by his anti-corruption stand — not politics.
“The government said the move will help tackle black money and counterfeit currency. That is why I supported it. But it must be accompanied by an attack on “benami” property and national prohibition as there is a lot of illicit money in the liquor trade,” Kumar said.
With his vocal support for the Centre’s move, Kumar has stood out among the Opposition that has gone hammer-and-tongs at the government’s demonetisation move, which is said to have hurt the poor and farmers.
Kumar — who teamed up with arch-rival Lalu Prasad last year to trounce the NDA in the Bihar polls — triggered speculation that he was getting cosy with the BJP after his vocal support for demonetisation.
But on Saturday, the Janata Dal (United) leader laughed off any such suggestions.
“Whenever I see anti-corruption measures, I support it without thinking twice. I am an Indian first, party comes later.”
He also cautioned the Opposition — especially West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee — on the perils of “aggression”.
Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, has emerged as the face of the Opposition protest against demonetisation, hitting the streets and holding rallies in a number of cities ranging from Delhi to Lucknow.
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