Traders have lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his proposal to include photographs of Ganesh and Laxmi on Indian currency notes. The Confederation of All India traders (CAIT)–  the apex body of retailers — said that the currency notes are often used in an inappropriate manner as people keep them in their pockets, touch them with dirty hands and some even use spit while counting the notes.

CAIT said that the appeal “is totally ridiculous, absurd and illogical and we completely condemned it.”. The industry body also said that printing images of Hindu Gods will actually be a humiliation.

“Therefore, it is necessary that no importance should be given to any such appeal or suggestion.This statement of Mr. Kejriwal is an attempt to serve his selfish political motivation, which is totally condemning- added trade leaders,” CAIT said.

Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to the Centre to print images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on new currency notes. “I appeal to the Centre and the Prime Minister to retain the image of Mahatma Gandhi on our currency notes while printing the images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on them as well,” he said, adding that he Muslim majority Indonesia prints currency notes with the picture of Lord Ganesh.

However, CAIT which pointed out that in Indonesia only currency notes of 20,000 denomination have prints of Ganesh, said that it too was condemnable.

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