Another Telangana stir

Hyderabad: Will Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao launch another Telangana type of movement? Perhaps, yes, if the Centre takes away gold inherited by women.

This was precisely what the Chief Minister said in the legislative council while replying to a discussion on the impact of demonetisation on state economy on Saturday.

“During my meeting with the Prime Minister, I have told him that both the Telugu states have a tradition of women inheriting their mother’s gold, which cannot be listed as ‘undeclared’ asset.

The inherited jewellery and jewellery gifted by father or husband cannot be called undeclared asset,” said the Chief Minister.

KCR said the Prime Minister had clarified to him that such gold will not come under the ambit of Union government’s audit plans.

“Since the assurance has been given by the Prime Minister himself, we have to believe,” he said. The Chief Minister also recalled the statement made by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this regard and said there was no need for any apprehension on this issue.

Only those who have gold biscuits and jewellery of over a kg and those who have not declared their assets need to worry.

He recalled that first time he became an MLA, he had submitted a list of jewellery his family has in the affidavit.

Stating that there was no scope of blindly supporting or opposing the Centre’s demonetisation policy, KCR said sooner the people wake up, better the results it would fetch in dealing with the scenario arising post demonetisation.

He said the decision on demonetization policy was taken by the Centre and the state had nothing to do with it.

The state government would encourage cashless transactions to ensure that the revenue does not go further down. He said the sooner the people adopt to the cashless transactions the better results it would bring.

KCR said the state government would soon come up with a mobile app ‘TS Wallet’ to carry out digital transactions in the state.