Another day, another Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faux pas. This time it was on an Aaj Tak debate.
Speaking about how Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has for the first time had to borrow Rs 1,000 crore to pay salaries to its employees, Anchor Nishat Chaturvedi directed a question towards BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.
When Chaturvedi referred to HAL’s CMD R Madhavan saying “We have no cash in hand,” Hussain’s response was, “We’re in a cashless economy. Why would you need cash in hand?”
When the anchor tried to explain, saying “Sir, we’re having a serious discussion,” Hussain interjected with, “We’re serious too. What do you want, cash in hand?”
Dialogue from forthcoming #PMNarendraModi‘s Biopic
Anchor : #SaveHAL MD has said, CASH IN HAND is negative, we dont have money to pay salaries.
BJP : @narendramodi has made India a CASHLESS Economy, no need for CASH IN HAND ??
Not sure if the movie is a COMEDY or a TRAGEDY. pic.twitter.com/UKRIL31ZM3
— My Fellow Indians (@MyFellowIndians) January 7, 2019
Not only did the BJP national spokesperson fail to comprehend the meaning of the question — he did not know what “cash in hand” meant — he also tried to overstate the supposed positive outcome of the Modi government’s disastrous demonetisation drive. The demonetisation drive did not turn India into a cashless economy; in fact, it severely affected growth in many sectors.
But more importantly still, one has to wonder what the BJP’s criteria for selecting national spokespersons are. And in the off chance, Hussain’s response was deflection and not ignorance; it is more than worrisome that this is a BJP spokesperson’s goto answer.