Criticisms and Achievements: Finance Minister’s Address on Opposition and Government Performance
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently engaged in a fiery parliamentary debate, responding to a no-confidence motion raised by the Opposition. In her speech, she strongly criticized the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which governed from 2004 to 2014, and elaborated on the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Her response shed light on the UPA’s perceived failures and the current government’s accomplishments.
Sitharaman did not mince her words while expressing her view that the UPA had wasted a whole decade during its time in power. She cited a lack of credibility and a shadow of corruption and cronyism that hangs over the UPA. She highlighted that the Opposition parties forming a coalition known as ‘INDIA,’ or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, reflected their collective image, which has been associated with such issues.
The ‘INDIA’ alliance comprises 26 parties, including Congress, Trinamool, DMK, RJD, and others. However, Sitharaman pointed out the peculiar situation where these parties are often opposing each other within different states. For instance, Congress and AAP are rivals in Punjab, Trinamool, Left, and Congress in West Bengal, and Left and Congress in Kerala, which she called a “bizarre partnership.”
Drawing a sharp comparison, Sitharaman praised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by her party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She emphasized that under the NDA, the country has experienced periods of high growth and low inflation, contrasting with what she deemed a wasted decade under the UPA.
The finance minister criticized the Congress “dynasty” for benefiting from leakages and major scams during its rule. She highlighted that the NDA government has taken steps to curb such practices, resulting in a substantial profit of ₹2.76 lakh crore due to reduced leakages.
Sitharaman also showcased the government’s strides in the finance sector, particularly through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a revolutionary payment system. She underlined the government’s support for start-ups, which have flourished under its policies.
Additionally, the Minister pointed out the government’s commitment to healthcare, highlighting the growth in AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) from seven in 2014 to 23 across the country. She subtly criticized the UPA by suggesting that launching schemes might be easy but implementing them effectively requires substantial effort.
The finance minister tackled issues of inflation, noting a recent incident when tomato prices surged. To mitigate the situation, the government imported tomatoes from Nepal, making them available in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) at subsidized rates as low as ₹70. She criticized Opposition-ruled states for not taking similar measures to control inflation, thus keeping inflation pressures high.
Responding to the DMK’s concerns about women’s safety and using the term “Draupadi” to symbolize an incident in Manipur, Sitharaman reminded them of a 1989 incident where former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s saree was pulled and DMK members laughed at her, highlighting the inconsistency in their stance.
In conclusion, Sitharaman’s address covered a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from the UPA’s alleged shortcomings to the NDA’s accomplishments. Her speech sought to underscore the transformative changes the NDA government has made in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and inflation control. The Finance Minister’s response was a mixture of criticism and affirmation, presenting a robust defense of her government’s performance while scrutinizing the track record of the Opposition’s alliance.