I was a supporter of demonetisation, but how many people benefited from it? asks Nitish Kumar

After lauding the demonetisation move as a "courageous step" by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for two years, Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar on Saturday questioned the benefits of the move.

The remarks came on the day when NDA was celebrating the completion of four years of Modi government at the Centre.

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It is the first time that Nitish Kumar, also the president of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has questioned the move.

"I was a supporter of demonetisation...but how many people benefited from it? Some powerful people shifted their cash from one place to another," Kumar said, adding that the move will yield better results only when scrapping of notes is coupled with attack on benami properties and prohibition.

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However, the attack on black money would yield better results only when scrapping of notes is coupled with attack on benami properties and prohibition, the chief minister said.

"While supporting demonetisation in principle, I, with equal strength, criticise the poor arrangements for its implementation due to which common man is facing hardship," Kumar, who is also the JD(U) National President, said.

Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader and the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, downplayed the statement by adding that the Chief Minister has been a supporter of the December 2016 demonetisation move.

In 2016, Kumar, then part of a Grand Alliance of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, had supported demonetisation, while RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had opposed the move.