Hansraj Ahir is the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Hyderabad: The demonetisation drive has led to controlling of narcotics trade and funding for terrorists and Maoists, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said today.
"Black money used to have a major adverse impact on society. Narcotics trade is very big and its marketing takes place from Afghanistan and through other ports and the whole trade happens in black money.
"That narcotics trade, which destroys the youth of the world and the country, had a big impact. The money there (narcotics trade) would go to terrorists and Maoists. We have proof. Now there is a stop on all those," he told reporters in Hyderabad.
He said peace has returned in Kashmir while many Naxal supporters and their families have surrendered to police in Odisha.
Mr Ahir, who attended the three-day annual conference of DGPs and IGPs at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad, said the event discussed ways to tackle crime and improving policing.
About the conference, he said, "New suggestions come, the introduction of digital police stations, e challans (traffic), CCTV cameras be used extensively... all these things happen. It is routine."
"It is the first time that the Prime Minister and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are spending so much time," he added.
Noting that the demonetisation drive is in the national interest, he said steps are being taken to reduce people's inconvenience.