Ujire (Karnataka), Oct 29 (PTI) Prime Minister NarendraModi today asserted that India could not lag behind in the"digital currency era", as he took a dig at "stalwarts" whohad mocked his government's push for digital transactions.
"Now an era of digital currency has started, and Indiashould not lag behind," Modi said at a rally here, about 50kmfrom Mangaluru in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada.
He said digitisation was aimed at bringing inaccountability and added that more cash would bring with itsocial evils.
The prime minister also hit out at people who sawthemselves as "Tees Maar Khan" -- a colloquial phrase used forthose who pretend to be smart or heroic -- and had beensceptical of digital transactions.
"Last November, December and January, stalwarts madespeeches in the Parliament. If you haven't heard them, hearthem. These stalwarts who see themselves as "Tees Maar Khan",those who think themselves as the epitome of knowledge, usedto say that in India there is poverty, lack of education, howcan digital transaction work," Modi said.
They also wondered how people could go cashless, he said.
"They spared no effort to speak ill about digitaltransactions," he said at a rally of the Sri KshetraDharmasthala Rural Development Project, where he symbolicallypresented a beneficiary with a RuPay card, an Indian versionof a credit or debit card.
Under the project, run by the organisation managed by theDharmadhikari (hereditary administrator) of Dharmastala,Veerendra Heggade, about 12 lakh Pradhan Mantri Jan DhanYojana account holders would benefit from the RuPay card.
"Our mothers and sisters who live in villages, whetherthey are educated or not, have taken a pledge. Twelve lakhpeople have taken a pledge that they will transact theirself-help group related business cashless; they will go withdigital transaction, with RuPay card," Modi said.
Complimenting Heggade for his efforts, Modi said heworked towards ensuring digital India.
Noting that the times had changed, Modi said currencieshad been changing with time, too.
"At one point of time it used to be stone. Then cameleather, then gold and silver, ornaments, paper and plastic.
It has been changing from time to time. Now an era of digitalcurrency has started and India should not lag behind," hesaid.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the government's effortsat ensuring that every rupee from the Centre was used for thewelfare of Indians and that it reached the intendedbeneficiary without any scope for leakage.
"One of our former Prime Ministers had said if one rupeegoes from Delhi, by the time it reaches a village it willbecome 15 paise. Who are these people who do this," he asked.
Highlighting the direct benefit transfer scheme, Modisaid because of the government's efforts, Rs 57,000 crore"going into someone's hand illegally" had been stopped and themoney was now reaching the right beneficiary.
"Now tell me, those people whose pocket the Rs 57,000crore used to go to, will they like Modi? Will they not get angry with Modi?... Difficulties will come, but standing at this holy place I'm saying whether we are there or not, wewill not let this country be destroyed," he said.
Speaking on skill development, Modi said, "In this 21stcentury, developed counties of the world are also discussingskill development. It is regarded as a prime sector."Pointing out that India took pride for its demographicdividend of having 800 million people, or 65 per cent of itspopulation, below the age of 35, he said skill developmentshould not only be used for meeting basic needs such as foodbut also for ensuring that the dreams of the country werefulfilled. PTI KSU RA VSBDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
