Corruption like cancer, surgical strike necessary: Javadekar

Noting that people are bound to face some initial problems after demonetisation, Union minister Prakash Javadekar today said corruption had taken a "cancerous" form and the government was trying to cure "a 50-year-old malaise in 50 days".
He equated the demonetisation to the surgical strike against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, saying black money was being used increasingly to fund terrorist and Maoists activities in the country.
The Human Resources Development Minister also hit out at the Opposition, saying they were "stalling" Parliament as they had "no issues" to discuss at all.
"A few years after Independence, the country was running fine, but then the malaise of corruption started. And, in the last several decades, it has spread like a cancer. And, where were the corrupt people hiding their black money, in notes of (denomination) Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

"The government carried out a surgical strike across the border (on terror launch pads), and another strike on this side of the border," Javadekar said.
He was addressing a gathering of students, faculty and others during a function held at the Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Grameen Vishvavidyalay. The minister adopted Paldev under the Centre's Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana in 2014.

"We are hearing from media that people are facing inconvenience by standing in queues. There will be initial issues, as the country is going through transition. And, we are trying to cure a 50-year-old disease in 50 days.
"Also, these fake currency notes were used for funding terrorist activities and black money is a common source for Maoist and extremist activities. So, a strike was necessary. And, hence the government took this step," he told reporters.

The minister underscored that the government is trying to encourage people towards cash-less transactions.
At the university, started by RSS ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh a few decades ago, Javadekar also inaugurated the annexe section of the new administration building.
The Rajya Sabha member, who adopted this village inspired by the legacy of Nanaji, also paid a visit to Sita Ram Kutir, and paid respect to the late RSS ideologue.
Paldev is a village inside the eponymous gram panchayat that falls under the Chitrakoot region of Satna district. The village borders Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The minister, who arrived in Chitrakoot this morning, first visited the patients at the Matri Sadan, housed in the Deendayal Research Institute, one of the many institutes started by Nanaji here.

He also met a group of doctors from UK, who visit the place every year and render voluntary service by offering free check-up and surgery to patients.
He later visited the Paldev village and held a janta darbar (public interface) there, followed by a review meet with officials. Satna MP Ganesh Singh also accompanied him.