Gehlot calls for state funding in elections

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday called for state funding of elections to curb black money.

Raising questions over the spiking of Rs 500 and 1,000 notes, the Congress leader said in his Facebook post that black money was widely used in elections.

"We must find ways to stop black money in elections. For that, we need to progress toward introducing the policy of state funding of elections."

He said the government's decision to check black money lacked a long term strategy.

"The problem is not so easy to solve as to get rid of old notes and issue new ones," he said.

"NDA must explain how they plan to root out the problem of black money from our economic system, our institutions... Otherwise black marketers will again find ways to twist the system as soon as new currency is circulated."

--IANS

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