Tripura CM refuses to be member of committee on digitisation

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has refused an offer to be a member of a committee on digitisation and cashless transactions as proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in view of his opposition to the Centre's demonetization move.

"Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely called me up yesterday and told me that the Prime Minister wanted me to be a member of a proposed committee on digitisation and cash less transaction. I told him modestly that the subject is highly technical and I have no experience with it," Sarkar told reporters.

But Jaitely insisted, according to Sarkar, that the committee would have chief ministers of other states, many of whom might have no experience of it either and that technical experts would be there to help.

Sarkar, however, refused the offer and argued: "My being in that committee would create a lot of confusion since people in our country were facing unprecedented inconveniences due to demonetisation. I opposed the decision because it created a disorder in our economy and also 75 to 77 people have committed suicide."