Demonetisation a courageous step to end 'kaladhan': Amit Shah

Describing demonetisation drive as a "courageous" step of the Narendra Modi government, BJP president Amit Shah today said it would help put an end to the black money menace "in one stroke" and give a push to the development process in the country.
Inaugurating the first anniversary celebrations of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, a key partner of NDA in Kerala, at Karukutty in Angamali in Ernakulam district, he said "demonetisation is an effort to end black money in one stroke".
Shah said the NDA government had initiated various steps in the last two and half years for the people,the latest being scrapping of high value currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500.

"Though Opposition parties, including Congress, CPI(M), Mamata-led TMC and Samajwadi Party are worried, it was a courageous decision of the Modi government to end kaladhan" (black money), Shah said.
Stating that the poor in the country would ultimately benefit from the decision, he said it would end black money and push up development process.
Another major achievement of the NDA government in the last two and half years was that "not even a single paise of corruption charge has been levelled against it," he said.

The BJP chief said the NDA government has a clear-cut defence and foreign policy. "We want to maintain good relationship with our neighbouring countries, but only after safeguarding the boundaries of our country," he said.

Recalling the recent Uri terror strike, he said 'Indian government retaliated with its surgical strike to ensure the security of our nation."
"It is the NDA which in power, not Congress.And we gave a befitting reply through the surgical strike," he said, adding NDA government is committed to ensure the nation's security.
Attacking the ruling CPI(M)-LDF and opposition Congress headed UDF in Kerala,Shah said both fronts were 'deliberately' not implementing the Modi government's various initiatives.
Apparently referring to the political violence,especially in Kannur, where NJP and RSS workers were being targeted, Shah said said the state government was not for development.

After the LDF government came to power in May this year, several NDA workers have been attacked, he said.
"If Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan thinks that his party can stall NDA's growth, I want to make it clear NDA will grow with much more vigour. He cannot root out NDA from Kerala."
Shah also expressed confidence that BJP-led NDA would get majority in the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Kerala.
BDJS president Tushar Vellapally was also present.
BDJS is a political party launched last year by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), an organisation of backward Ezhava community, just before the assembly elections.

Earlier, Shah also met leaders of other NDA partners in the state soon after his arrival here.