Interview with Ch Birender Singh:Highlights

Some highlights from the exclusive interview given to MJMC students, YMCA University on this occasion:

Jagdeep, Anshul Garg, Dr Divyajyoti, Mansi, Kavita with Hon'bLe cabinet minister Ch Birender Singh

MJMC: What is your take on demonetization ?

BS: It is a radical move. Criticism was natural but 'desperate diseases call for desperate remedies'. Only 23 per cent of 500 and 1000 denomination notes were in circulation, the rest were part of parallel economy. The issue needed to be addressed.

MJMC:We are talking about move towards digitization of currency, plastic money and digital economy, you have been the Finance Minister of Haryana and also the minister of Panchayati Raj and Rural development, how acceptable is the idea to an average villager who is not computer -savvy?

BS: That's passe. The villager today has moved on. In UP , we have a whole village that wields debit cards. Follow the example.

MJMC: What is your take on Punjab Government's stand regarding SYL?

BS:The Supreme Court has already pronounced its judgement in favour of Haryana receiving the water. No government can supersede it.

MJMC: For Sir ChhotuRam 'Economics and Politics were inextricable...' There are several parallels we witness in present PM's moves with that of Deenbandhu's economic and political programme- how far are the two leaders similar and where do they differ considering that Sir Chhotu Ram's politics was peasant-centred and the PM believes in taking the peasant along with corporate on the road to development?

BS:The concept of 'corporate' did not exist back then as it exists today. Production, manufacturing and enterpreneurial activities were marginal. But yes, Chhotu Ram's vision was that robust economy could not have exploitation or debt cycle as its base. 

MJMC: Any message on Haryana Swarn Jayanti?

BS:Peaceful co-existence and progress. 

MJMC: Thank You sir.

(MJMC Team included Anshul Garg, Jagdeep, Mansi, Ragini, Kavita and Chanchal with Sh Dushyant supervised by Programme Coordinator/ Editor, YMCA TrailBlazers)