Insta
Conservative Church Comes Out Against The BJP’s Progressive Digital Payment Drive
Swarajya Staff
Jan 24, 2017, 05:05 PM | Updated 05:05 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes last November, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under his leadership has been pushing for greater acceptance of digital payment methods. The talk has largely revolved around turning the society digital.
The digital push has largely found favour among people. But now it has come to light that the Roman Catholic Church in Goa is not happy with the ruling party’s push for digitisation. The social arm of the church, the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), has officially released fliers that slam several of the BJP’s policies, reports the Financial Express. The flier reportedly says,
The shift from the social policy of roti, kapda aur makaan for uplifting the poor sections of society to an emphasis on digital and cashless policy involving smart phones, ATM cards and Paytm apps as the basic requirement for every citizen to avail of government benefits and purchase their basic needs is a worrisome phenomenon.
It goes on to say that these new government policies are being introduced to push “selective business interests...under the pretext of fostering economic growth, tackling corruption” and going digital.
This comes in the wake of the 18 January announcement from the Archbishop’s office denying charges that the Church was indulging in politics before the upcoming state assembly elections in Goa.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.