Standing in line not new for Indians: Harsh Vardhan

Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan on Friday said standing in lines is not new for Indians and now people were standing in queues to ensure a "corruption-free India".

"Standing in lines is not new for us Indians. We lined up for getting ration card, then ration. We lined up for getting cinema or cricket tickets, for getting a phone connection and then to pay its bill," Harsh Vardhan said after launching the Nukkad Natak campaign to educate people about mobile banking in central Delhi's Chandni Chowk area.

"Today, we, the common people, are standing in lines to ensure a corruption-free India and a better future for our children," the Minister said.

Harsh Vardhan's remarks come after a severe cash crunch forcing people to stand in queues for hours outside banks and ATM kiosks across the country following the government's November 8 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

"Allthough political parties and leaders talked of corruption, black money and misuse of subsidies for denial of rightful opportunities of development of poor, no one took any steps to curb these menaces," the Minister said hitting out at the previous governments.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today taken steps to fight for the poor. He is the first Prime Minister in whose eyes tears can be seen for the poor," he said.

Harsh Vardhan said Mobile App Banking can be used even with ordinary cell phones and he assured traders and people present that the speed with which people are adopting mobile banking, trade and life will normalise by January.

--IANS

aks-bns/lok/dg