The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the Union Budget 2021 on 1 February. While some lauded the proposals made to boost growth, several opposition parties slammed the government saying that it has persisted with a fiscal conservatism despite the current state of the economy.
“This Budget shows a hope to build new India, a stronger India and to build a self-reliant India. It will set us on the path of becoming an economic and manufacturing powerhouse,” said Anurag Thakur, MoS Finance in Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till March 08.
The FM said that “ building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat actually represents the aspirations of 130 crore people of this country.” “Over two-thirds of this population are a youth looking for opportunities,” Sitharaman highlighted. “The Budget was aimed at not only giving relief packages but creating opportunities for employment,” she added.
FM slams the opposition:
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Sitharaman counters Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Hum do, Hamare do’ with MNREGA data. Nirmala Sitharaman used the same slogan and said though Congress comes up with “very good schemes”, it lacks the will of using those schemes properly as those schemes turn into devices to only favour “cronies” and “hum do hamare do”. “Take the credit of giving birth to MNREGA. But also take credit for mismanaging it, for giving money to ghost workers,” Sitharaman said. Congress misused MNREGA, says Nirmala Sitharaman.
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FM Sitharaman slams Congress over farm issues. Congress failed to fulfil promises to the farmers, says Nirmala Sitharaman.
- PM SVANidhi Yojana for those who are constantly accusing us of dealing with cronies. SVANidhi doesn’t go to cronies. Damaads get land in states which are governed by some parties- Rajasthan, Haryana once upon a time, said FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha.
Highlights of the sitting:
- Dinesh Trivedi handed over his resignation as TMC MP in Rajya Sabha to the Vice President and Chairman of the house, M Venkaiah Naidu.
- The Lok Sabha passed the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
- BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao on Friday said that the opposition is building fake narratives and spreading lies about the situation of the economy under the BJP regime. “They can’t succeed in their fake narratives, as they are all lies,” Rao added. “They claim that there is unemployment, according to the CMI report of January 2021, unemployment in Jan was 6.53 %, much better than before COVID-19,” Rao further highlighted.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday said that a much-needed post-COVID-19 relief was distinctly provided in the Union budget 2021, and this was immediate, Sitharaman added. Siting examples of the relief, she said” 800 million people were provided free food grains, free cooking gas was given to 80 million people and direct cash transfers were given to 400 million people including farmers, women and poor and needy.
- Sitharaman said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is responsible for removing all ills from MNERGA and it was under the BJP that the scheme was effectively utilised. “We have overseen the highest ever utilisation at Rs 90.469 crore of the rural employment scheme, Sitharaman added.
- AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Friday accused the ruling dispensation of “selling the whole of the country”. “This Budget is to sell India’s assets. You are selling Rail, Sail, Coal, LIC, banks, airports, ports, FCI, power, water, road, BPCL. You are selling the whole of Hindustan,” Singh said in the Rajya Sabha while participating in the debate on the Budget. He said these are the country’s assets created by 130 crore Indians and not private property that could be sold.
- BJP Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal has moved Privilege Motion Notice against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, citing ‘serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House on 11th February 2021’.
- Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge will be the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, succeeding Ghulam Nabi Azad whose tenure comes to an end on Monday, PTI reported.
- The new textile policy, which would help in promoting exports and creating employment opportunities, has not been finalised and is at the draft stage at present, Parliament was informed on Friday.
