Demonetisation Ended Terror-Funding, Stone-Pelting, Says Parrikar

Problem of cash circulation will be resolved significantly in the next few days, the Defence Minister said.

Since the demonetisation of high currency notes, terror funding has come down to zero and there hasn't been stone-pelting on security forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the "daring" move, which, he said, will also help clamp down on the narcotic drugs.

Earlier, there were rates: Rs 500 for stone-pelting (on security forces in Kashmir) and Rs 1,000 for doing something else. The PM has brought terror funding down to zero. In the last few days after the PM’s daring move, there hasn’t been stone pelting on security forces. I congratulate the PM for it.

Manohar Parrikar

Parrikar spoke at an event organised in Mumbai by the BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar.

Talking to reporters later, Parrikar said those who sponsor terror will be affected by the demonetisation.

Earlier, at the event, Parrikar said, "Bhatkhalkar did not tell me beforehand that he will felicitate me."

A citation was presented to Parrikar, which lauded his role in surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. It also thanked him for providing relief to people affected by land development rules in the vicinity of Central Ordnance Depots.

When I became Defence Minister, I did not think there will be things like this (dealing with COD-land issue). I thought defence meant bang-bang on the border. Altogether, 17.38 lakh acres of land in the country is under Defence possession. Defence is the largest land owner in India. There was delay in resolving COD issue as there were concerns over security on one hand and people’s concerns on the other.

He further added:

Whether it’s border security or economic security, PM Modi has taken daring decisions whatever is being done, our jawans on border are doing it, I and PM are just supporting it. Problem of new notes circulation will be resolved to a large extent in the next four-five days.

In the next Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, nobody will be left with power to bribe voters, Parrikar said, without naming the ally Shiv Sena, which has been critical of demonetisation.

(With inputs from PTI)