Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today "welcomed and supported" Centre's decision to withdraw Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes saying it would help country's economy in the long run.
Replying to a question on Centre's decision to take out Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes from the market, Kumar "welcomed and supported" the decision.
"In the beginning people might face some inconvenience but taking everything into account, it would yield positive results," Kumar, who is also JD(U) National President, said.
He was talking to mediapersons at Patna airport before leaving for Bettiah, district headquarters of West Champaran, from where he is starting his "Nishchay yatra" from today.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav and senior Congress minister Madan Mohan Jha accompanied the CM to the launch of "Nishchay yatra" which is aimed at taking feedback from people on implementation of prohibition and start of "seven resolves" which has been adopted by the grand secular alliance ministry in the state as policy of governance for next five year.
"I think the country's economy will benefit from this decision. That's why I am welcoming and supporting the decision of withdrawing Rs 1000 and Rs 500," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night announced decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes from midnight last night as a step to fight menace of black money in the country.
(REOPENS CAL 2)
Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also supported the withdrawal of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes as a measure against black money.
"The RJD has always spoken against black money and it supports the step to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes in that direction," Tejaswi, the younger son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, told reporters at Patna before leaving for Bettiah to participate in the 'Nishchay Yatra' launched by Kumar.
Supporting the withdrawal of currency notes with higher denominations, Tejaswi, who is the RJDLP leader in the state Assembly, stressed on "proper arrangements" to meet the situation arising out of the decision.
He also sought to know from the NDA government what steps it intended to initiate to bring back black money stashed abroad and the gold bought with the ill-gotten money.
"The NDA government should reveal the names of those from whom black money has been recovered recently," Tejaswi said.
