BJP today said demonetisation is the 'most comprehensive' and 'potent instrument' ever against the twin evils of black money and corruption in the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 'overwhelming' support from people in the drive.
BJP's success in the recent local body polls held in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and by-elections in different states was proof for this, party's national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said here.
"The recent demonetisation is the most comprehensive and potent instrument ever against the twin evils of black money and corruption in our country. The whole nation is backing Prime Minister in his fight against black money and corruption," he told reporters at a press conference here.
"People have overwhelmingly supported PM's demonetisation move though it entailed some temporary hardship. There can be no better referendum than people's mandate in elections."
Attacking opposition parties for objecting to withdrawal of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, Rao alleged that their real intention was to protect their personal, political and financial "vested interests" under garb of protesting for public interests.
Rao slammed the opposition parties, including Congress and left, for "wanting to perpetuate a non-transparent, cash heavy, corrupt black economy."
"These cynical political attempts will fail as people are welcoming this change towards a modern, less cash economy."
Detailing the benefits of being a cashless economy, the leader said "cashless society will bring in transparency, curb corruption, ensure higher tax collections and payment of minimum wages and widen tax base."
The additional revenue generated would be used to build rural infrastructure and developmental programmes for the poor, he said.
Also as evidence of changing public interest towards digital payments, he cited the massive surge in digital transactions in the week after demonetisation announcement.
RuPay card transactions have increased three times to reach 66 lakh transactions per week and master/visa debit card transactions have almost doubled in the same period, he claimed.
Rao also argued that during post demonetisation, there were only two political ideologies that matter to the people.
Parties supporting rooting out of black money and corruption, spearheaded by PM Modi-led BJP, on the one side and on the other, parties wanting to perpetuate "a corrupt, dodgy, black money generating parallel economy," he said.
In this ideological clash, people have already swung heavily towards the BJP, Rao said.
"Opposition parties have realised that they suffered heavy note and vote losses post-demonetisation and that has made them desperate. Parliament blockade is mainly a result of this desperation and confusion in opposition ranks," the BJP leader said.
Stating that Modi brought in revolutionary changes in the country in the past two and half years, he said the Prime Minister has ushered in a paradigm shift in governance focusing on social and economic security of the poor with their reach to several crore people in a short span.
Targeting CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala, Rao said the left parties were acting against the interests of the people of the state by "mindlessly opposing demonetisation decision. They have done nothing to protect the interests of the members of cooperative banks, government employees and pensioners."
"Why does the state government not make salary payments and pensions to all through banks as in other states? Why are they not paying nearly half of them through treasury in cash? Why does the state not bring all primary cooperative banks under the RBI's regulation and introduce KYC norms for all its members and account holders?," he asked.
"It is time for Kerala government to stop politics and join the revolutionary change towards a modern, cashless economy ushered in by Prime Minister," Rao added.
