Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had supported demonetisation in a sharp deviation from his alliance partners RJD and Congress, today demanded the Centre to 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.
He was addressing a function organised by JD(U)'s Extremely Backward Class (EBC) cell to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Bihar chief minister and socialist leader Karpoori Thakur.
The JD(U) core committee had yesterday reportedly decided to maintain its earlier stand to support currency scrapping but speak against 'poor arrangements' in its implementation.
Kumar said 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 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.
Kumar had supported Centre's demonitisation move to check corruption, black money and counterfiet currency, and had termed it as a "bold step" while his alliance partners had been critical of it.
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Sticking to his earlier stand that there should be strike against benami property and implementation of prohibition along with demonetisation to stamp out black money, Kumar said "Very little amount of black money is held in the form of cash. "The bulk of black money is invested in real estate, diamond, gold, silver, shares and hence the Centre, if it really wants to wipe out black money, should immediately strike against the benami properties."
On the Law Commission seeking state government's opinion on Uniform Civil Code, Kumar made a scathing attack against the Centre, specially the manner in which it sought state government's reply in question-answer format on leading questions that involved discussion.
"We (the Bihar government) have already sent its reply to the Law Commission...It sent the state government a questionnaire as if we are sitting at an examination or writing one for a job. This is not a correct way of seeking opinion of the state government and that too in a questionnaire format," he said.
There are different codes for different religions and the draft proposal should be given to all stakeholders for proper debate and discussion in Parliament and assemblies and if consensus emerges, the government can go ahead with Uniform Civil code, he said.
"Ours is a pluralistic society. Please don't try to destroy it... The state government has already sent its opinion in the form of objection after getting the cabinet's nod as there is a three-party government in Bihar ... JD(U) will also send its opinion tomorrow on the issue," Kumar said.
In a letter to the Law Commission Chairman Justice B S Chauhan on January 12 Kumar had cautioned against making any hasty decision on its implementation as it would lead to "social discord and erosion of faith in the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion".
On the issue of electoral reforms, he advocated that even donation of Re 1 to the political parties should be revealed.
Seeking level playing field in politics, he said electoral reforms should be such that the scope of money playing any major role would be little.
Former JD(U) President Sharad Yadav recalled sacrifices and simplicity of veteran socialist leader Karpoori Thakur.
