Quantum jump in use of debit, credit cards after demonetisation: Prasad

The opposition parties and their leaders, who are shouting at the government for demonetisation, forget that the cash transaction does not only create black money but it also exploits people, Mr Prasad said here last evening during a seminar organised by the International Institute of Security and Safety Management.

"I would like to tell the opposition leaders to see for themselves many private school, colleges and institutions if a teacher's salary is Rs 30,000/- a month, he is actually paid Rs 15000/- and is made to sign on receipt of Rs 30000/-. If the salary is paid by cheque or through bank, the corruption practice will end," he said. Mr Prasad said India is moving towards cashless transaction.

Meanwhile, the BJP leader in a statement, has slammed Congress for alleging that the BJP had bought properties in view of demonetisation. Reiterating its charge that the BJP-led NDA Government had leaked information about demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes to the BJP leadership before it was announced, the Congress yesterday had alleged that a few days before the announcement, BJP leader deposited crores of rupees in the banks and purchased properties worth crores to turn black money into white. Countering the allegation levelled by the Congress, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Mr Prasad said, "It is absurd to allege that the party has started buying properties in view of demonetisation."

The BJP leader said in the Maha Sampark Abhiyan held in Bangalore on July 5, 2015, Party President Amit Shah had emphasised upon the need of having established offices across the country till the grassroots level as, "Our membership was already crossing 10 crore, making BJP the largest political party in the world".

He said that "We have taken up work of building party offices. Without a good party office there can be no expansion of party work within a district. Therefore, we have decided that by December 2016, in every organisational district across the country, we will construct a new party office."

As part of its expansion programme, the Party President had also made a request to collect funds for this purpose and establish the party offices. He had also urged party workers to contribute generously. As per the direction, a Central committee was formulated to look into the matter. Further, sub-committees were formed at every State level to give effect to this decision.

The party and its karyakartas have been working relentlessly for the last 16 months to achieve this. It is preposterous to suggest that a normal activity undertaken by the party as part of its regular and decided agenda to expand at the grassroots levels had anything to do with the demonetisation scheme.