If demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had affected funding of terror activities, how was the Nagrota militant attack orchestrated, MPs of Opposition parties asked at a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday. Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi chose to not answer the question at the two-hour meeting of the standing committee on home affairs, The Indian Express reported.
Besides tackling black money and corruption in the country, the Centre’s demonetisation move was primarily aimed at cutting off funding to terror organisations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said while announcing the decision on November 8.
At the parliamentary meeting, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram sought details of the level of preparedness to thwart such attacks and also expressed his concerns about the extent of coordination among national security agencies to handle them. The committee was informed about the Centre’s long-term plans to secure the border.
The meeting was held as the National Investigation Agency was given charge of the probe into the November 29 militant attack on an Indian Army unit in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagrota. Three militants had killed seven soldiers – two Army officers and five jawans – in the strike. Documents written in Urdu claiming that the incident was “the first instalment in revenge for killing Afzal Guru” were recovered from the assailants.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!