The unusual silence of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the demonetisation move of the NDA government has raised many an eyebrow and led to suspicions as to whether he is trying to get into the good books of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Though there were initial leaks from the Chief Minister’s Office to the media that KCR had described Modi’s decision as a “dikku malina decision” (mindless decision) as it hit several people hard, the press release from the same CMO on Thursday surprised many in the media.
It quoted KCR as saying that if the demonetisation move was aimed at eradicating the black money, everybody should be welcomed.
He is also learnt to have instructed his party leaders not to make any statements against the demonetisation move. His party MPs have also distanced themselves from the agitation taken up by the rest of the Opposition seeking roll back of the decision.
KCR’s changed mind has led to the speculation that he might be trying to get closer to the NDA. He even got a call from Modi asking him to come to Delhi for negotiations. Apparently, the BJP would seek the support of the TRS in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in fighting against the Opposition.
Naturally, the Congress party sees a conspiracy in it. Expressing doubts over KCR’s silence on demonetisation, senior Congress leader Mohammad Ali Shabbir Ali said it was not proper on the part of the Chief Minister to direct his MPs to maintain neutral stand on demonetization of big notes.
“It seems there might be some understanding between the Centre and KCR”, he stated and demanded that the Chief Minister reveal the secret behind his direction to his MPs on staying neutral in Parliament on big notes’ issue.
