FM invites CMs to suggest ways to ease note ban hardships

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has invited Chief Ministers to suggest measures to reduce hardships caused by demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes and also suggest ways to move towards a cashless economy.

According to a report in NDTV, Jaitley has invited several Chief Ministers, including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, to be part of the panel. Kumar is one of the few Opposition CMs who have supported the Centre’s demonetisation move.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will head a committee of Chief Ministers.

The panel is also expected to work on ways to move towards a cashless economy.

Another CM reportedly tapped for the committee is Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has not joined the Opposition’s protests against the note ban and has offered issue-based support to the BJP government.

Arun Jaitley called Chandrababu Naidu on the phone on Monday afternoon to ask him to head the panel, said PTI. Chandrababu Naidu, an ally of the BJP, had been seeking a ban on high value notes as a way to combat black money, much before the Centre came out with the move.

He has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision on November 8 to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, but questioned the introduction of a Rs 2000 note.

The government is also trying to convince Tripura CM Manik Sarkar and some Congress CMs to join the panel, said reports.

Meanwhile, Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao also welcomed Modi’s demonetisation move on Monday, but called for a ‘total revolution’ against black money including state funding of elections, a move proposed by the PM himself recently.