New Delhi: The government today informed
the Lok Sabha that RBI has advised people not to use garlands
of notes to honour personalities, though there is nothing in
law to prevent such misuse.
"RBI has made an appeal to the members of the public not
to use bank notes for making garlands, decorative pandals and
places of worship or for showering on personalities in social
events," Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said
in a written reply.
The government`s clarification comes in the backdrop
of controversy generated over the BSP workers garlending Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati with a garland of notes of Rs
1,000. The estimates of total value of the garland ranged from
Rs 21 lakh to Rs 15 crore.
The Minister, however, added that the current laws do
not have provisions to prevent such misuse of currency notes.
"RBI has informed that there is no specific provision
under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, or under RBI Act, 1934
to check/prevent such misuse of currency notes," Meena said.
The issue of honouring Mayawati with a huge garland of
currency notes had earlier disrupted the Lok Sabha
proceedings with members of the Samajwadi Party demanding a
probe into the matter, while the BSP leaders defending the UP
Chief Minister.
The Income Tax department had already stepped in to
investigate the source of the money for the garland presented
to Mayawati at the maha rally in Lucknow last month.
-PTI
