Increased cash flow will help link rivers, welfare programmes: Venkaiah Naidu

TADEPALLIGUDEM (ANDHRA PRADESH): Union minister Venkaiah Naidu today said increased cash flow to the government post demonetisation will help complete interlinking of rivers from Ganga to Cauvery, extend adequate crop insurance and take up many other welfare schemes.

He said demonetisation is a "dharma yuddham" (a just battle) against black money and corruption. He termed Congress as "the people who stashed their ill-gotten wealth abroad".

"Very soon we will expose them," he said.

"Those who looted the country and were steeped in corruption were now trying to preach sermons. That's the face of the Congress. It was the party that let terrorism and black money grow," the Information & Broadcasting Minister said.

"This is a maha yagnam and a dharma yuddham that Modi has undertaken. People of the country should stand by him and help cleanse the economic system," he said, addressing a Kisan Rally organised by the BJP here this evening.

He also paid homage to those killed in the Mumbai terror attacks this day eight years ago.

Demonetisation was no doubt a "bitter pill" for (curing) a "long-term ill", Venkaiah observed, adding it would help build a "Swachh Bharat" in all senses.

"Tann, Mann and Dhan. Everything should be clean, not just the villages and cities. Demonetisation will help the poor, the farmers, the women and the youths. If your money is valid, it will not become invalid," he asserted.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre decided to ban import of refined palm oil from countries like Indonesia and Malaysia to help local farmers.

"Indian palm oil farmers were not getting remunerative price due to import of crude as well as refined palm oil. But now we have decided to stop import of refined oil so that the local farmers get the benefit and also the domestic oil industry can flourish," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 had announced the decision of his government to demonetise currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.