FM Nirmala Sitharaman slams Opposition for creating 'false' narrative around Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday gave a strong rebuttal to the Opposition charge that the Union Budget this year was meant to serve only the rich and ignored the bulk of India’s poor.

Replying to the debate on the Budget in the Rajya Sabha, the finance minister said that her government provided both, the short term quick relief needed by the poor during the Covid pandemic, and sought to invest in sectors that can bring in multiplier effect at a time when the economy was suffering due to the pandemic.

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“It has now become a sort of habit for some in the Opposition to constantly allege, in spite of what we are doing for the poor and the steps taken for helping the poor and needy of this country, a false narrative is created to accuse - saying that this government works only for cronies,” Sitharaman said.

She added that crores of beneficiaries, who have benefited through Mudra loans, Prime Minister Aawaas Yojana and various other schemes launched during Covid were not rich people but for the poor of the country.

“More than Rs 27,000 crore worth of loans sanctioned under Mudra…Over 1.67 crore houses completed under PM Awas Yojana. Over 2.67 crore households electrified under PM Saubhagya Yojana since October 2017…. Were all these being done for the rich?,” she asked.

"Is this government facilitating the digital transaction to facilitate some cronies, some 'damads'? Not at all, it is helping only the poor," FM said, taking a jibe on Opposition Congress.

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The Opposition had on Thursday alleged that the Budget provisions served only the rich of the country.

This Budget is for the rich, of the rich and by the rich,” said former finance minister P Chidambaram participating in the debate.

Sitharaman said that the Budget was for self-reliant India.