JD(U) divided on demonetisation: Nitish Kumar hails, Sharad Yadav slams PM Narendra Modi's move

The JD(U) on Wednesday appeared to be divided on the demonetisation move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Sharad Yadav launched an offensive against the government over scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his ‘total support’ for the move.

JD(U) Sharad Yadav, while seeking a JPC probe into the suspected leak, said in Parliament that the sudden move was akin to “jumping out of a moving train”.

He said unlike the rich, who the PM said were standing in queue, it was the poor, handicapped and old people who were doing so to get their hands on their hard earned money.

He alleged that while loans worth Rs 7,000 crore was written off today by banks including Rs 1,200 crore of Vijay Mallya and said the Prime Minister has made the honesty of the country to stand in queues.

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On the other hand, while addressing a 'Chetna sabha' at the start of his second leg of Nishchay yatra, Nitish said, “I am in favour of the decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes which will help end '2 number ka dhanda' (illegal business).”

“I want an attack on benami properties earned through illegal means for more effective results against black money,” he added.
This is the second time that Nitish has supported the demonetisation scheme.

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"I welcome this development. Yes people are going to face challenges initially but they only will benefit from this in the later stage, so I support the Prime Minister's step," Nitish had said on November 9.

However, the JD (U) has joined the Opposition parties in raising the issue of demonetisation in the winter session of the Parliament.

"Yesterday all the opposition parties stood together, we held a meeting and as an outcome the fact is that we all are against black money but the panic which has been created after banning of high denomination notes is worrisome.," Sharad Yadav said.

(With inputs from PTI)