Banks have committed certain irregularities: Kalraj

Accepting certain irregularities on the part of banks following the recovery of crores of rupees in new currency notes, Union Minister Kalraj Mishra today said that government was aware of the hardships faced by the people and was taking firm action to alleviate them.
"Raids have been carried out and some people arrested... banks have also committed certain irregularities. Some bank officials have been suspended," Mishra told news persons here.
"Whenever there is any information (of irregularity), action has been taken," he said.
Many bank officials have been suspended over irregularities committed by them since November 8 when demonetisation was announced by the Prime Minister.

To a question on hardships and people committing suicide due to cash crunch, Mishra said, "Prime Minister Modi has himself urged the people to tolerate hardships for a brief time...Problems occur whenever any big decision is taken but this step will ensure a clean economy in the country."
Mishra, the Union Cabinet Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, said that Prime Minister had earlier appealed to the people to deposit undeclared wealth by September 30 or else he will take big steps and when it did not yield big results, notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 had to be scrapped.

He wondered as to how the political parties which had earlier hailed demonetisation later went on to criticise the move.

The demonetisation move has also stalled the winter session of Parliament and Opposition parties are blaming the government for not having a debate over the issue.
Mishra said that government wanted a debate in Parliament and it was open to good suggestions.
"But the Opposition parties are running away from debate and not allowing smooth functioning of the Parliament," he said.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had yesterday said that if allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha there would be an earthquake.