The elaborate exercise undertaken by Telangana Chief Minister K Chadnrasekhara Rao on the afterwards effects of demonetization has reportedly enhanced his stature and political personality in the corridor of political circles at New Delhi. Particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi was impressed with his home-work on the issue.

While almost all other politicians, including from BJP focused their attention towards the public anger and discomforts due to long queues at banks and ATMs, it was only Rao who went beyond the surfacing problems.

Without resorting issuing a political statement by supporting or opposing the centre’s move, he spent couple of days to study the problem of black money and effects of demonetization in a constructive way. He personally discussed the issue with various sections, right from the former RBI Governor Dr YV Reddy to an ordinary attender in his office.

Even he personally telephoned to various people seeking their view point and tried to understand its impact on sectors like real estate, rural artisans, agriculture, poultry and retail traders. According to a senior officer, he first tried to understand the severity of the problem.

During his meeting with Narendra Modi, by complimenting him for taking a courageous decision, he frankly listed problems being faced by various sections and submitted a detailed report. Probably this may be the only objective report the prime minister received from out-side government sources.

Rao also called for a change in the attitude of the government towards black money holders. “Don’t treat them with discontent as they failed to utilise the government’s opportunity to make white their wealth. Only treat it as `unaccounted’ amount rather than treating them as `criminals’”, he added.