Salute Indians for being part of this yagna: PM Modi on demonetisation

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi marked one month of demonetisation by justifying the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as part of a “yagna” against terrorism, black money and corruption. “I salute the people of India for wholeheartedly participating in this ongoing yagna against terrorism, corruption and black money,” the PM tweeted in a pointed rebuke to opponents who continued their protests against the ban on the two high value notes by observing a “black day” on Thursday.
In a series of tweets, the PM seemed to specifically reach out to rural areas and the youth. “No longer will the progress and the prosperity of rural India be curtailed by corruption and black money. Our villages must get their due,” Modi said, a significant comment which came amid debate in political circles whether the support for demonetisation in rural areas had survived the hardship resulting from cash crunch in the sowing season.
In fact, the PM also mentioned traders, a section considered to have been among those hit the hardest by the radical decision on November 8. “The government’s decision has several gains for farmers, traders, labourers who are the economic backbone of our nation,” Modi said.
The PM also renewed the appeal he had made to the youth through his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address after demonetisation, seeking to enlist them in what he called a “yagna”. The day also saw BJP president Amit Shah welcoming the measures announced by the government to nudge people to overcome their dependence on cash by switching to digital payments. The use of “yagna” in Modi’s tweet led former J&K CM Omar Abdullah to allege that the PM was tapping religious beliefs of the majority community to shore up popular support for the decision to invalidate the two notes.
“Does the PM’s use of the word yagna, which has very obvious religious overtones, aim to make it tougher for true believers to oppose?” Omar questioned through a tweet. The PM also exhorted the youth to help others opt for digital economy. BJP spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh said the 11 measures announced by finance minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday were welcome steps in making the economy “less cash” and it should not be construed as “cashless”, which was being cited by the opposition to create fear among people.