Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is going to head the Chief Ministers’ committee to study the impact of demonetisation on the people and suggest remedial measures, described the ongoing currency crisis as a "national calamity."
Naidu, who pulled up bankers for failing to effectively address the situation, said he was interfering in the banking system only to remove hardships being faced by people post-demonetisation.
"Don't feel I am exerting pressure on you. Relieving people of the troubles is my only concern and hence I am interfering in your affairs. The present currency crisis is a national calamity and we all should work collectively to tide over it," Chandrababu told the bankers during a teleconference here on Tuesday.
But the bankers had been resenting the "unwanted interference" of the Chief Minister in their functioning post-demonetisation. Bankers were miffed with the Chief Minister for "overstepping his jurisdiction" and issuing orders in contravention of the guidelines being issued by RBI and their own banks.
With reports coming out about an apparent face-off between the Chief Minister and the bankers, Chandrababu spoke to them in a conciliatory tone.
"The cash available in the state is less, as also the number of Point of Sale machines. Our state is ahead in technology and there should be maximum number of cashless transactions from December 1," the Chief Minister said.
