New Delhi: India can’t be cashless, it can only be less of cash, says Minister of State Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Speaking exclusively to CNN News18, Rijiju clarified that when the government asks India to go cashless it only means, "Cashless as far as possible."
Rijiju also said people should prefer to go cashless. When asked if the choice to use cash is being taken away, Rijiju said, "If a child doesn't want to go to school, can it be allowed?"
He is the first minister to concede that a cashless economy in the literal sense is not possible in India. In the last few days, the government has aggressively defended demonetisation saying it will help India go cashless.
Responding to reports that ATMs are seeing less and less of money, Rijiju said, "People are suffering but they have the goodwill for the PM... PM has said there will be problems for some time... but ultimately they will go." Government sources had told CNN News18 that while in November, cash was available in 30% of ATMs, the figure is 13% in December.
“The Congress party has made this country stand in the queue for everything. You go for the employment, railway tickets or even gas connection... In villages, you have to stand in the queue for ration," Rijiju said.
“To obtain any kind of benefit from the government office, you have to stand in the queue," he said, adding, "The PM has said this is the last time people are standing in the queue because after that the country will change and we will have a robust system of online payment."
"Definitely, there are some issues where our mechanism is not working properly. When we hand over the money to banks, what they need to do is to reach out to different banks and ATMs. Some people are hoarding money but there are heavy raids taking place and severe action has been taken."
Speaking on digital India, Rijiju conceded that safety of online data is a concern. Recently Union Home Ministry has seen automatic renewal of FCRA licences of some NGOs and an investigation has begun to check if hackers were responsible for the goof up. When asked if MHA, the ministry for security cannot safeguard its own data, how will information of common Indian be safe, Rijiju said, "We have to be very careful... If it is an inside job, they will not be spared. If it is hacking and intrusion, we will get to the bottom of the issue."
On allegatiosn of corruption against him rijiju said Congress Will Pay for Pointing Fingers at Me.
“Arunachal Pradesh projects were sanctioned during Congress rule. They always raise issues which never exist… It’s becoming a joke," Rijiju told CNN-News18 when asked about allegations of involvement in a Rs 450-crore alleged power scam in his home state.
“Congress is going to pay a very high price for pointing fingers at me… Congress will be wiped out in my district," he added.
“Even school children are making fun of Rahul Gandhi… We want to have a healthy debate (on demonetisation). We are not running away from the debate," Rijiju told CNN-News18, a day after Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minster Narendra Modi of being “personally corrupt".
Defending his outburst against people who are alleging corruption against him, Rijiju said, "I had not said I will beat people with shoes. It will be people of my consituency. I do not regret my remarks."
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