Modi calls opposition ‘Tees Mar Khan’ after distributing 1.2 million RuPay cards

UJIRE (DAKSHINA KANNADA) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mocked opposition leaders who were critical of his government’s digital banking initiatives by describing them as ‘Tees Mar Khan’ - a colloquial phrase used for those who pretend to be smart.Speaking at an event organised by Shri Kshetra Dhamastala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) to distribute RuPay cards to 1.2 million people at Ujire, about 50 km from Mangaluru, he lashed out at the opposition parties who are skeptical about the success of cashless banking.

“Big experts and intelligent people who saw themselves as ‘Tees Mar Khan’ used all their intelligence to belittle the digital banking initiatives during discussions in Parliament sessions for months. They were unsure about its success saying the illiterate and poor and those who have no mobile phones will find difficulty to carry out cashless transactions. They said all bad things about it. But (Veerendra) Heggadeji has given a fitting reply to them today,” he said referring to large number of people who got RuPay cards. The SKDRDP facilitated the distribution of RuPay cards to PMJDY account holders.

Modi said no matter whether people are educated or not, they are determined to log into the cashless economy as India cannot wait when the world is moving ahead. “Bhim app and cashless transaction were brought in with good intentions and hence they have been able to overcome all hurdles. Cashless transaction will also bring in accountability in self spending.”

He congratulated Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade for his initiative to facilitate distribution of RuPay cards and said the digital era has started and India should not be left behind. Further, he asked members of women self-help groups to register themselves on the GeM (Government e Market) website in order to have a better market for their products. He said 40,000 producers have registered themselves on the portal and are able to sell their products to the Union and state governments. With this, the government has also been able to get products for lesser price compared to past.

Stating that Karnataka and many other state governments have not signed MoU with respect to GEM, he appealed to them to do it as the poor will get a better and guaranteed market.The PM said ever since Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) was introduced, the government has been able to deposit `57,000 crore benefits in the accounts of poor and the unauthorised people and thieves have not been able to lay their hands on it. “If `1 is released from Delhi, the entire money will reach the desired target and there is no fund leakage,” he said.