New Delhi, 10th August 2023: Amid a charged session in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took a strong stand against the Opposition, highlighting the NDA government’s commitment to efficient implementation and swift delivery of public services, unlike the mere promises put forth by others.
During her address, Sitharaman stated, “The days of vague assurances like ‘it will happen,’ ‘it will be provided’ are long gone. Today, the public demands concrete results, saying ‘it has happened,’ ‘it has been provided,’ ‘it’s here.'”
She proceeded to offer examples of achievements that were once mere aspirations during the UPA era, underscoring how these aspirations have been realized under the leadership of the NDA. Sitharaman pointed out successes such as access to electricity, gas connections, water supply, PM Awas housing, sanitation facilities, village roads, and highways as instances of services the NDA government has effectively delivered.
Additionally, the Finance Minister emphasized India’s unique position of optimism and confidence in its future growth, especially when contrasted 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 argued that previous administrations would present ambitious visions to the public, while the present government is actively working to realize 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 just nine years.
Sitharaman attributed the lost decade from 2004 to 2014 to the preceding UPA regime. She brought attention to the global economic landscape, pointing out the modest 3% growth in 2022 and the World Bank’s projection of a decline to 2.1% in 2023. Notably, major economies like the US, UK, Eurozone, and even China are grappling with challenges related to consumer demand and stagnant wages.
Amid these circumstances, Sitharaman urged the assembly to see the Indian economy from a different perspective. She noted the shift in perception, highlighting that while Morgan Stanley had once labeled India a fragile economy in 2013, it has since upgraded its assessment.
The Finance Minister also emphasized the positive impact of various government schemes on the public. 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.
