Social activist Anna Hazare. File photo Social activist Anna Hazare. File photo

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare believes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision on Tuesday night to wipe out black money by scrapping the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 was a revolutionary step. And could lead to the beginning of a “new India marching towards a corruption-free society”. The 79-year-old says the next step should be towards electoral reforms to check black money in the poll process.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Hazare said, “The decision to ban the circulation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes is the first step, which would help in wiping out black money and putting brakes on illegal financial operations to the terror organisations. The decision will help in tackling the fake currency in circulation.”

However, he cautioned, “The decision to issue the new currency notes of Rs 2000 denomination needs to have adequate safeguards to ensure it does not generate black money in future.”

Stating that he had repeatedly raised the demand for discontinuation of higher denomination notes, Hazare said, “ I believe this decision will force the sections who has always dodged the system to become more answerable about their financial transactions and earnings. The rural poor have nothing to worry as their concerns relate to coping with the daily livelihood.”

Dwelling on the corruption in electoral process, Hazare said, “There should be flawless mechanism to audit the funds invested in the elections if we have to weed out black money.” He said his fight against corruption would continue. “At some point, every individual in the society should realise that they owe something to the nation. Afterall, thousands sacrificed their lives to give us freedom. It is our duty to uplift the poor and downtrodden,” said Hazare.

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