No-Confidence Motion: “We believe in empowering all and appeasement of none,” Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while responding to the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, lashed at the UPA government and the Congress for not working for the welfare and development of people. Launching a scathing attack at the previous UPA rule, she added that they used to merely give false hopes to the people. However,  during the present times, people’s aspirations are being fulfilled by the incumbent NDA government.

Nirmala Sitharaman stated, “Words like ‘banega, milega’ are not in use anymore. What are the people using these days? ‘Ban gaye, mil gaye, aa gaye’. During UPA, people said ‘Bijli aayegi’, now people say ‘Bijli aa gayi’. They said ‘gas connection milega’, now ‘gas connection mil gaya’…They said airport ‘banega’, now airport ‘ban gaya’…”

 

She further said that the UPA wasted an entire decade because there was a lot of corruption and cronyism. Today, every crisis and adversity has been changed into a reform and an opportunity.

“Transformation comes through actual delivery, and not through spoken words. You show dreams to people. We make their dreams a reality. We believe in empowering all and appeasement of none,” FM Nirmala Sitharaman said.

India’s DBT Story sets example for rest of the world

Drawing a comparison between the UPA rule and the NDA rule with regards to the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, FM Nirmala Sitharaman stated, “Our DBT story sets an example for the rest of the world. I recognise the operationalisation of DBT by UPA but only Rs 7,367 crores were transferred in 2013-14. From that amount, DBT transfers have increased 5 times by 2014-15 itself. In the last Financial Year, Rs 7.16 lakh crores have been transferred through DBT”

Morgan Stanley’s report hails India’s economic growth

Referring to Morgan Stanley’s report in 2013, Sitharaman stated, “In 2013, Morgan Stanley had included India in the list of five fragile economies of the world. India was declared a fragile economy. Today, the same Morgan Stanley upgraded India and gave it a higher rating. In just 9 years, the economy rose and saw economic development due to the policies of our govt – despite COVID. Today, we are the fastest growing economy of the world.” “So, India is in a rare position of being optimistic and positive about its future growth.

Transformation in the banking system – On path of growth

When PM Narendra Modi took the reins of the government, the country’s banking sector was in dire state owing to the mounting NPA. Adequate steps were taken to revive the sector and now one can see that India;s banking sector is treading on the path of profit making . FM Nirmala Sitharaman said, “We have realised that the banking sector needs to be healthy and therefore we took a lot of measures. Banks are able to work without political interference, they are working with professional integrity. ‘Banks mein failaya hua aapka raita hum saaf kar rahe hai’.”

People to give befitting reply to UPA, highlights rift in opposition 

Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, “People moved no confidence in UPA in 2014 and 2019 and defeated them. The situation will be the same in 2024. HM said yesterday, what was the need to change the name of UPA?…They have an amazing unity. It is tough to understand if they are fighting against each other or together…”

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes on I.N.D.I.A. alliance; says, “Karnataka’s Health Minister came to Delhi to see the mohalla clinics here. He came and said that there is nothing special in them and we are disappointed. This is one of the examples of their fight.”

FM addresses the issue of distribution of tomatoes

In the past few days, there has been a surge in the price of tomatoes. Addressing the issue, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Procuring of tomatoes from tomato growing regions of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and also Karnataka and distribution of these through cooperative societies like NCCF, NAFED are all happening. Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan – this has already started from 14th July and this will continue. Also in Delhi, mobile vans are distributing as outlets of NCCF and NAFED and also the Kendriya Bhandar.”

“As on date, NCCF has distributed 8,84,612 kgs of tomatoes in Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh & this will continue in the coming days and this will be increased also…Already the prices of tomatoes in the wholesale mandis in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have started coming down below Rs 100 and we expect this to help us. As of today, we have booked tomatoes through Kolar mandi – coming to Delhi at Rs 85/kg…We have also initiated imports from Nepal by removing the import restrictions and the first lot of tomatoes from Nepal are likely to reach Varanasi, Kanpur by Friday itself.”

Restoration of Sengol to its rightful position by PM Modi

Commenting on the row over the restoration of Sengol by PM Narendra Modi and Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman opined, “…When PM Modi restored it (Sengol) to its rightful place in Lok Sabha, that became an issue, that is an insult to the Tamils. The Senglo was ignored for decades. The Senglol was lost in history and kept in some museum. The Kashi Tamil Sangamam showed how Tamil Nadu and Kashi have very deep connections. The first time you heard Tamil being quoted in the United Nations. In ‘Mann ki Baat’, PM has used Tamil so many times”

Sitharaman comes down heavily at DMK on issue of women safety 

FM says, “I agree that women suffering anywhere – Manipur, Delhi, Rajasthan – will have to be taken seriously. No politics played. But I want to remind this entire House of one incident which happened on 25th March 1989 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Then she hadn’t become CM Jayalalithaa’s saree was pulled in Tamil Nadu in the Assembly. She was the LoP. The DMK members who were seated there, heckled her and laughed at her…Has DMK forgotten Jayalalithaa? You pulled her saree, you demeaned her. That day Jayalalithaa took an oath that she will never come to the House unless she becomes the CM. Two years later, she returned as the CM of Tamil Nadu…”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha today and respond to the no-confidence motion that was moved by the opposition.