From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 19: While fully supporting the Narendra Modi regime’s tough action against black money and the demonetisation of high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 with effect from November 8 midnight, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Centre could have handled the situation better without causing undue sufferings and miseries to the people.

"The Centre should have been well prepared and put in place adequate safety and precautionary measures to spare the people," he said.

Speaking to reporters at his home office of Krishna in Bengaluru on Friday, he said: ""We are totally supporting steps against curbing black money in the market."

But the Centre has not ensured adequate supply of other currency notes in the market and farmers, petty businessmen, and poor common people have been adversely affected by demonetisation of higher denomination notes, Siddaramaiah said.

He also lamented that there was no response from the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely to the two letters written by him on the inconveniences and difficulties of the ordinary people, especially the poor, middle classes and rural masses, including farmers.

"Patients visiting private hospitals are also affected most as hospitals are not accepting old 500 and 1000 rupee denomination currency notes. Pharmacies are not selling drugs by accepting the demonetised currency notes," he said.

Farmers have also not been able to repay their loans to cooperative banks as banks are not accepting old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, he said.

"Our request to the Centre to allow all cooperative banks to accept old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 has not been honoured. When fuel stations can accept demonetised notes and even dispense currency notes, why can’t the District Cooperative Banks be allowed to do it?," he asked and said the cooperative sector was the key interface in the financial market in the rural areas.