Scrap Rs2,000, Rs500 Notes: Chandrababu To Center 

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday asked the Center to scrap the banknotes of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 denomination to speed up digital payments.

"It was I who first demanded abolition of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. Now, they brought Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes but they too should be scrapped," Naidu, who heads a panel of chief ministers on digital economy, told reporters.

His fresh demand came in the light of a hawala racket that was busted by the Visakhapatnam police on Friday.

"A staggering Rs 1,379 crore was sent out using the hawala route. I once asked the RBI after the demonetisation to send more money to AP. The RBI Deputy Governor told me money was 'coming to AP but don't know where it's going'. Now, we know where the money is going," the Chief Minister said, referring to the hawala racket. "So many fake companies were created for these transactions. Some nondescript persons have done all this. Who is the role model for them," Chandrababu asked, indirectly taking a dig at YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Chandrababu Naidu

It was I who first demanded abolition of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. Now, they brought Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes but they too should be scrapped

"These people are tarnishing the image of AP. Who knows how many such rackets exist (in the state) and who is the role model for them? We have to deal with them in a tough manner and protect the state's image," the Chief Minister remarked. Attacking the YSRC president, the TDP supremo said the former extended support to the NDA in the ensuing presidential election only because "he has no other option".

"We (TDP and BJP) are coalition partners. Why did he (Jagan) go and meet the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)? He announced support to the NDA in the presidential election as he has no other option," Chandrababu said.

In November last year, the Narendra Modi-led government had introduced the Rs2,000 and Rs500 notes after announcing the demonetisation of Rs1,000 and Rs500 currency notes.

PTI