Excelsior Correspondent
GUWAHATI, Jan 11: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that terror funding has been drastically hit in the last two months following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of “Remonetization”.
Addressing the, first of its kind, “Digi-Dhan Mela” programme in Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to statistical inputs which indicate a 60% dip in terror related activities and 50% reduction in terror related “Hawala” transactions following the post-remonetization drive against black-money and withdrawal of legal tender of Rs.500 and Rs.1000 currency notes. This observation, he said, bears a special significance for areas affected by terrorism and violence, particularly Jammu & Kashmir and Northeast besides the Maoist violence affected States.
Dr Jitendra Singh referred to a recent media report which stated that bundles of old currency notes amounting over Rs.40 lakh had been left abandoned at a certain place in Assam by a terrorist outfit which found no use of this currency following remonetization. Similarly, he referred to reports about the incidents of stone-pelting having gone down to almost “zero” in Kashmir Valley, because the youngsters were being lured to do so by handing out Rs.500 notes of the earlier currency tender, which was no longer available.
Not only this, Dr Jitendra Singh said, there are reports that in Pakistan at least two printing presses have been shutdown which were earlier printing fake Indian currency.
Dr Jitendra Singh profusely praised Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his government for having given Assam a lead among the Indian States in introducing cashless transactions on a fast-track. He particularly appreciated the response of people living even in the remotest areas and difficult terrains as well as the people in tea-gardens for having readily accepted the option of cashless transaction, notwithstanding the initial hassles accompanying it.
Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal reiterated his Government’s commitment to carry forward Prime Minister Modi’s campaign against black money. He said, the State Government has introduced cashless transaction in virtually every department and area, and plans to carry it forward in a big way in near future.
MoS Home Kiren Rijiju, who also spoke on the occasion, said that people living in the hilly and remote areas of Northeast felt so much motivated by the Prime Minister’s call that they had voluntarily adopted the cashless transaction options.
On the occasion, lucky draws were drawn to give prizes to the winners under “Lucky Grahak Yojana” and “Dhan Vyapar Yojana”.
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