Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu demands ban on Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday demanded a ban on Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes as a step towards curbing corruption during the elections.

Speaking at the assembly, Mr. Naidu said that the big notes should be cut short in the market and cashless transactions should be encouraged.

The Telugu Desam Party President reminded that he was among the first few who had come out in support of demonetization back in 2016. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu also chaired the 13-member committee of Niti Aayog on cashless economy constituted in November 2016, when the centre announced the invalidity of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.

Advocating the ban of the big notes, he said, “If you ban Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes, parties will find it difficult to distribute money during the elections. How many notes of Rs 100 can they carry?”

The Chief Minister said that his government was working day and night to serve the people but just before elections, someone from other cities would come into the state with bundles of cash. He said, “Why should we be afraid of such people? We should ask people to vote for us purely on the basis of our service and administration.”

Responding to the corruption allegations made by opposition leaders, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said, “Let the government ban Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes with immediate effect. If at all I had already diverted cash to the constituencies, it would become useless if the big notes are banned.”

TDP recently pulled out of NDA demanding the fulfillment of the promises made to Andhra Pradesh during the state bifurcation.