Patna, Dec. 5: Chief minister Nitish Kumar, among the staunchest supporters of demonetisation, today questioned large-scale land purchase by the BJP in the state ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's note ban announcement on November 8.
"Our party (Janata Dal United) has raised the issue of large-scale land purchase in Bihar by the BJP prior to demonetisation, and has asked several questions. The BJP should answer how it got money and from where it brought it to buy so much land," Nitish said at an interaction with reporters after his Lok Samvad (public interaction) today at the chief minister's secretariat.
The chief minister expressed surprise that the BJP was not furnishing answers on the matter.
"If it comes to the state government, the registration department will look into it and action will be taken if needed," he said.
The JDU had recently demanded a CBI probe into the matter and presented documents to claim that the BJP had purchased 22 plots across Bihar.
Registration, excise and prohibition minister Abdul Jalil Mastan, a member of the Congress, had said that the registration department had called for documents to probe the land purchases.
The BJP has responded to the allegations that demonetisation was compromised by saying that the decision to buy land was taken several months ago, and the plots were meant for constructing party offices.
Nitish, while endorsing demonetisation, expressed doubts on whether India could become a cashless economy as emphasised by Prime Minister Modi given the country's social and cultural background.
"Taking these things into account, cash transactions will continue. Use of cash is ingrained in people's habits and becoming completely cashless is impossible," he said.
The chief minister again reiterated that demonetisation was not enough to strike at the black economy.
"If our honourable PM has fixed a target to hit at the black economy, then he should understand that currency is just a small part of it. He should hit at benami property, (purchase of) gold and diamonds. He should also hit at the liquor trade as black money forms a large component of it," Nitish said.
The chief minister though skirted questions on reports that huge amounts of money were flowing into Jan Dhan accounts, particularly in Naxalite-affected areas of Bihar. He said the matter concerned the central government.
Nitish also passed the onus of the sufferings of the masses to the Centre, saying the decision was taken by the Modi government and it should deal with the implications.
In a contrasting stand, Nitish's party colleague and Rajya Sabha member Sharad Yadav has repeatedly - both inside and outside Parliament - harped on the hardships faced by the people.
"Right now the people are happy that a big part of the wealth of those who earned it through dubious means will go waste. This is the reason they are standing happily in queues before banks and ATMs. But if a large part of the black wealth is not rendered waste, then the central government will have to provide answers," Nitish said.
Nitish also trashed Union minister Giriraj Singh's purported call for nasbandi (sterilisation) along with notebandi (demonetisation) and said it was a baseless demand.
