Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government's decision of demonetisation in November 2016.

Speaking at the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna in Jammu and Kashmir, Malik said that it was only after demonetisation that the budget of India has overhauled.

"Those who make a hue and cry over demonetisation, I want to tell them that we were short of funds to buy weapons for our security forces. The money which came as a result of demonetisation helped the security forces to be equipped with advanced weapons and launch such more schemes for the public interest", he added.

Backing Malik’s statement, former deputy CM Kavinder Gupta told MyNation, "The Modi government has managed to keep a check on illegal transactions after demonetisation and the funds which were earlier used by the kindred of politicians are now available for the common Indians. This is just a start; the Modi government will ensure the development of every single person in the remotest area of the country”.

Malik hailed the government's initiative to launch Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna in Jammu and Kashmir. He said, " Only a person who has seen poor suffering from illness and poverty could take such initiative. The PM has seen this closely".

On the other hand, the BJP has denied allegations of pressurising Malik. Hitting hard on Congress, MoS PMO said, "The Congress government in its 40-50 years have been doing so and it is only what they feel. We never interfered in Governor's office and never will, and this is the difference between the BJP and the Congress".