Note ban: Lalu criticises Centre, Nitish congratulates it

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today congratulated the Centre saying demonetisation was a tool to fight black money, while RJD chief Lalu Prasad attacked the BJP alleging the exercise helped people convert black money into white with greater ease.
Trading of charges by rival political leaders thus marked the first anniversary of demonetisation in Bihar.
Although his Janata Dal (United) did not actively participate in any programme organised on the day, Nitish Kumar took to social media to congratulate the Centre.
"Demonetisation was an effective action against black money. Attack has now begun on benami properties. Congratulations to the Centre," he tweeted.

His deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, speaking at an 'anti-black money day' programme organised by the BJP, took potshots at the RJD and the Congress saying "those who were fond of black money were observing 'kala diwas' (black day)".
The BJP observed the first anniversary of demonetisation as "Anti-Black Money Day" across the country, while the Congress-led opposition marked the day as "Black Day".

BJP state unit chief Nityanand Rai claimed that note ban led to "a significant decline in Naxal activities and terrorism in Kashmir".
In Gaya district, Union Minister Giriraj Singh took part in a party programme and attacked the RJD for organising protest over GST and hit out at its leader Lalu Prasad who he said has made himself known as "embodiment of corruption".

The RJD supremo, who held a rally in Hajipur on the occasion, accused the Narendra Modi government of "fooling the people by claiming that note ban will inconvenience the rich and benefit the poor".
Prasad, whose party staged demonstrations across the state, had earlier said in Patna that demonetisation had helped "convert black money into white with greater ease".
The Congress, which is the RJD's ally in Bihar, held anti-note ban programmes separately.
In the morning, a demonstration was staged near the collectorate and a candle light march was taken out in the evening in memory of those who lost their lives due to hardships faced in the wake of demonetisation.

Another NDA ally, the Lok Janshakti Party, held a symposium on demonetisation where the party's state unit chief and state minister Pashupati Nath Paras said, "The people of the country are firmly behind the decision which was taken against corruption and black money.