Sitharaman Challenges Opposition: ‘Public Wants Tangible Results, Not Mere Promises
New Delhi, 10th August 2023: During a highly charged session of the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly criticized the Opposition, asserting that unlike them, the NDA government prioritizes efficient implementation and rapid delivery of public services.
During her address, the Finance Minister remarked, “Gone are the days of mere promises like ‘it will happen,’ ‘it will be provided.’ Nowadays, the public demands tangible results, saying ‘it has happened,’ ‘it has been provided,’ ‘it’s here.'”
She proceeded to provide instances of accomplishments that were once anticipated during the UPA era, underscoring that these aspirations have now been realized under the NDA’s leadership. Sitharaman listed achievements such as access to electricity, gas connections, water supply, PM Awas housing, sanitation facilities, village roads, and highways as examples of the services the NDA government has successfully delivered.
Furthermore, the Minister emphasized India’s distinct position characterized by optimism and confidence in its future growth, especially when juxtaposed with the global economy’s current struggles involving high inflation and sluggish expansion.
In the context of a debate on a no-confidence motion against the Modi government, Sitharaman contended that earlier administrations would present ambitious visions to the populace, while the present regime is actively fulfilling those visions. She highlighted India’s remarkable transformation from being one of the world’s fragile economies in 2013 to becoming the fastest-growing economy within a mere nine years.
Sitharaman blamed the preceding UPA regime for squandering an entire decade during its tenure from 2004 to 2014. Drawing attention to the global economic scenario, she pointed out the modest 3% growth in 2022 and the World Bank’s projection of a decline to 2.1% in 2023. Notably, major economies such as the US, the UK, the Eurozone, and even China are grappling with challenges linked to consumer demand and wage stagnation.
Amidst these circumstances, Sitharaman urged the assembly to view the Indian economy from a different angle. She highlighted the shift in perspective by noting that while Morgan Stanley had once labelled India a fragile economy in 2013, it has since upgraded its assessment.
The Finance Minister also underscored the positive impact of various government schemes on the populace. She drew a parallel to the Congress-led government’s ‘Garibi Hatao’ (eradicate poverty) slogan under Indira Gandhi’s leadership and posed the question of whether poverty can genuinely be eliminated.
