Tamil Nadu BJP leaders put on brave face, bat for PM Modi's move

CHENNAI: Initially conspicuous by their absence at banks and ATMs after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the invalidation of `500 and `1,000 notes, some BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu have in the past few days braved public ire to defend the measure.

State BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said she visited several banks and ATMs in Chennai on Monday to distribute Xerox copies of forms for withdrawal of cash and exchange of demonetised notes.“Simultaneously our cadres have distributed butter milk and water to people waiting at these outlets,“ she said.

“We could not be with the people in the city earlier as we were campaigning in three assembly constituencies headed for elections,“ she said while maintaining that demonetisation was not an election issue.“Despite temporary inconvenience, people are happy about the measure,“ she added.

State BJP general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan said she has visited several banks and ATMs in Coimbatore to talk to people standing in queues and has received a positive feedback on the demonetisation.“Political parties are opposing the PM's decision only because of political motives without appreciating that it is a major step for economic reform which will ultimately bring down housing and education costs,“ she said.

“Banks or ATMs are not the places where it would be advisable for BJP leaders to come to elicit their views as people are emotionally charged, but the same people despite their anger, are also speaking positively about PM Modi's demonetisation measure to curb black money distribution,“ party's newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP and national executive member L Ganesan said. “This does not mean we are not concerned about the hardship faced by the general public,“ said Ganesan.