Ex-BJP MLA Fears YSRC May Use Volunteers To Change 2K Notes

VISHAKHAPATNAM: Former BJP floor leader and now vice president of AP BJP, P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, says corrupt political leaders and business persons associated with the YSRC government might use village and ward volunteers, apart from workers, to exchange ₹2,000 denomination notes during the next two months.

Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam, the former MLA cautioned the public not to accept any money from either a known or unknown person for exchanging the notes being withdrawn, as this may land them into serious trouble. In case those exchanging notes do so for people involved in drug peddling, they may be jailed for at least 10 years.

Vishnu Kumar Raju disclosed that on November 26 last year, he had written to the RBI governor, union finance minister and chief election commissioner of India to withdraw ₹2,000 denomination currency notes, as political leaders, particularly those in Andhra Pradesh, are stashing them for use in the 2024 general elections.

“My letter has been acknowledged and the note withdrawal order has come two days ago. It is a good decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as it would cleanse the money system,” he underlined.

Quoting various estimates, the former BJP legislator estimated that around ₹3–4 lakh crore Indian currency is in the form of ₹2,000 notes.