Demonetisation a good step, now PM Narendra Modi should hit at benami transactions: Nitish Kumar

Patna: Pinning hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday termed it as a drastic step.

Kumar expressed confidence in Centre's decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes saying, “Demonetisation is a positive step and will lead to benefits.”

"Notes ban is a good step, now PM Modi should also hit at the benami transactions and bring back black money stashed in foreign countries," the Bihar CM said.

Often seen as a possible opposition candidate for prime ministership in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said no serious attempt is currently being made to bring together non-BJP parties.

A grand alliance of the opposition parties at the national level is certain to win the elections but no such scene was in sight, he said.

He asserted there is no problem in the ruling grand alliance in Bihar and mocked speculation about his growing proximity with BJP, saying he would not offer denial on all kinds of reports as denial is 50 percent confirmation.

Nitish Kumar and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are the only two opposition leaders who have advocated for demonetisation. Otherwise, political parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party have viciously attacked the Centre over the move.

Earlier, the Janata Dal (United ) leader had called for action on the 'benami' properties and urge the Centre to crack the whip on the said menace.

Kumar had described the Centre's demonetisation decision as "sahsik" (courageous), which, he said, would help in the fight against black money.

The Bihar Chief Minister, had first favoured the Centre's demonetisation decision, while addressing a 'Chetna sabha' at the start of his second leg of 'Nishchay yatra' in Madhubani on November 16.

PM Modi on November 08, 2016 announced the demonetisation move saying, “To break the grip of corruption and black money, we have decided that the five hundred rupee and thousand rupee currency notes presently in use will no longer be legal tender from 8th November 2016 midnight.