TRS to support Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha on demonetisation

Hyderabad: The TRS has decided to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation step in the winter session of Parliament, but will ask the Centre to immediately ease problems being faced by the people in exchanging new and smaller denomination notes.

The party has also decided not to support West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others who have opposed demonetisation, including Mr Kejriwal’s rollback call.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s demonetisation decision, but want the Centre to take steps to ease hardships being faced by the common man due to shortage of currency. We will also urge the Centre to release pending financial assistance and bear the loss incurred by the state due to demonetisation. TS will be badly hit financially,” K. Kesava Rao, leader of TRS secretary general told this newspaper.

Sources said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao briefed the TRS Parliamentary Party leaders on the strategy to be adopted in both Houses of Parliament in the winter session, beginning Wednesday.

“We are not aligning with Mamata Banerjee. We will be on our own. Intention of the Prime Minister in curbing black money is welcome, but the way it has been implemented has triggered panic, adversely affected the common man and has hit TS economy,” TRS leader in the Lok Sabha A.P. Jitender Reddy said.

He said that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao is working hard to develop the new state of Telangana and has set targets of completing irrigation projects, Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya and other mega schemes besides smooth implementation of welfare schemes for the next three to five years.

“But the sudden demonetisation has sent shockwaves in the market. State revenues are expected to be badly affected. We have requested the Centre to compensate the loss due to demonetisation,” Mr Jitender Reddy said.