PANAJI: Taking U-turn on his own statement that Goa would be India’s first cashless state, Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said it was neither possible nor desirable to make the coastal state fully cashless state.
The former Goa Chief Minister was speaking on the sidelines of a state government function at the Secretariat in Panaji. He said the state government aimed to make only up to 50 per cent transactions in Goa cashless.
"Fully cashless is not possible, nor desirable, nor intended; what is intention is to reduce the extent of use of cash. Wherever possible, start doing transactions through a digital mode for which we intend to take it to 50 per cent from about 15 to 20 per cent as early as possible. There are so many difficulties, which are being surmounted now," he said.
Earlier on November 27, strongly backing the demonetisation policy implemented by the Narendra Modi government and the promotion of digital transaction in the country following the ban on notes, Parikar speaking at a party rally in Goa said the state would be country’s first cashless state.
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