New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a Santa on the Christmas Day and announced two schemes to promote digital transactions and banking to make India a cashless economy. For the next 100 days from yesterday, he said, some 15,000 people making e-payments will get Rs 1,000 cash back in a daily lucky draw. And a weekly draw can win cashless transactions prize money running into lakhs of rupees, Modi said in the year's last edition of his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat'.
"On the day of Christmas, Indians will get the benefit of two schemes — Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana and Lucky Grahak Yojana. It will last for 100 days. As such, crores of rupees will be distributed to lakhs of people," Modi said.
Traders going cashless with online payments would get an exemption in Income Tax, he announced. And the lure doesn't stop here. "On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti (B.R. Ambedkar's birthday) — April 14, 2017, we will be conducting a bumper draw in which the winning prize will be in crores (of rupees)."
More than six weeks after the November 8 demonetisation decision, people are still struggling to manage even their daily expenses because the Reserve Bank of India has been unable to supply enough new notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 to replace the now invalid currency notes.
Modi said he wanted a debate in Parliament on donations being given to political parties but it could not take place.
"I wish there was a discussion in Parliament on funding for political parties," he said, scoffing at rumours that there were different rules for funding of political parties.
"Law is the same for everyone, whether it is individual, organisation or a party," he said.
Modi acknowledges people's pain after demonetisation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was also "feeling the pain" demonetisation has caused to people across the country but defended the move to curb corruption and black money in India. "People are going through pain, hardship. Who won't feel the pain? I am also feeling the pain as much as people are," Modi said in his monthly radio broadcast.
He said he had received three kinds of suggestions from the people over the November 8 decision to spike 86 percent of the total currency in circulation in the country. "Some people have written about the problems, inconvenience citizens were facing. In the second category, people have stressed on the good work, (which is) in the interest of the nation. They also spoke about irregularities in some parts and how new ways of corruption are being devised."
"In the third category, people have supported (the demonetisation move). In addition, they have asked to continue the war against black money, corruption. They have asked for stricter steps to weed out corruption, black money."
Law against benami properties to be implemented soon
Lauding the public for their support in exposing the wrong-doings of the corrupt post-demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to operationalise the law to deal with 'benami' properties as part of the government's crusade against corruption. "You are possibly aware of a law about Benami property in our country which came into being in 1988, but neither were its rules ever framed, nor was it notified. It just lay dormant," Modi said in his monthly radio address.
"We have retrieved it and turned it into an incisive law against Benami property. In the coming days, this law will also become operational," he said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about some who are devising "newer wily ways and means" to counter the government's fight against corruption.
"Everyday many new people are being taken into custody, currency notes are being seized, raids are being carried out. Influential persons are being caught. The secret is that my source of such information are people themselves," he said. "Information being received from common citizens is many times higher than that being obtained through the government machinery," he added.
Defending the frequent changes in rules after demonetisation, he said: "The government, being a sensitive government, amends rules as required, keeping the convenience of the people as its foremost consideration, so that citizens are not subjected to hardships.
"To counter these new offensives, we too have to devise appropriate new responses and antidotes. When the opponents keep on trying out new tactics, we have to counteract decisively since we have resolved to eradicate the corrupt, shady businesses and black money." He also said that rumours spread by some people that political parties enjoy various concessions and exemptions "are wrong".
"Some people are spreading rumours that political parties enjoy all kinds of concessions. These people are absolutely in the wrong. The law applies equally to all. Whether it is an individual, an organisation or a political party, everyone has to abide by law and everyone will have to," he said.
