KCR Discusses Development Funds, Note Ban With Modi

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao - currently in New Delhi to attend Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari's daughter's wedding, and meet Narendra Modi and his Cabinet - called on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday evening and discussed demonetization and funds for development works in the State.

According to the officials who were with the Chief Minister at the meeting, Rao asked Jaitley to ensure swift release of the second installment of funds due to Telangana for development of its backward regions.

The Telangana Chief Minister made a plea to the Prime Minister that the old 500 and 1,000 currency notes kept by homemakers as home contingency funds should not be considered illegal. He also urged the Prime Minister to direct all private hospitals to accept old currency notes till things got back to normal. He also spoke in length about the difficulties being faced by the people of Telangana since the note ban, and gave his suggestions.

"All those having less than Rs. 2.5 lakhs per annum as income or savings should not be treated as black money holders," the Chief Minister had said.

For those who came in late, Rao was in Delhi in November for a special interactive session with the PM on the situation triggered by demonetization. He had also sought a moratorium on the loans to be repaid by the States to the Centre to help them get through the currency crunch with minimal losses.

After the meeting with the Union Finance Minister, the CM, accompanied by TRS leaders, attended the marriage reception hosted by the Gadkari.