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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly defended the Union Budget in Lok Sabha, rebutting Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and targeting TMC over claims of neglecting Bengal. She highlighted credit availability, farmer support, cluster modernization, and the government’s focus on rural and traditional industries.
Sitharaman Fires Back at Rahul
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a strong rebuttal to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during her speech in the Lok Sabha on the Union Budget.
Responding to allegations made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sitharaman asserted that it was the previous government—not the current one—that had “surrendered” India’s interests at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
She emphasized that India’s sovereignty and economic interests were never compromised under the present leadership. Echoing Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s remarks, she said no one could ever “sell out” India.
Her comments intensified the political atmosphere in the House, as she directly countered what she described as misleading accusations from the Opposition benches.
Addressing concerns raised by opposition members regarding economic management, Sitharaman clarified that there is no shortage of credit in the country. She assured Parliament that sufficient financial liquidity exists to support businesses and growth.
On agriculture, she stated that a separate allocation has been made for fertilizers in the Budget to ensure farmers do not face difficulties. The government, she stressed, remains committed to protecting farmers’ interests and stabilizing agricultural inputs.
The Finance Minister also responded sharply to allegations by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, who had claimed that the Union Budget ignored Bengal. Sitharaman rejected these claims, calling them baseless. She said the Centre has consistently supported West Bengal and accused TMC leaders of misleading the public.
In a pointed remark, she suggested that those making such accusations might be accustomed to “cut money” practices, implying corruption at the state level. She also questioned why fuel prices in Kolkata would reflect central support if the Centre had truly neglected the state.
Referring to law and order issues, Sitharaman criticized a statement attributed to Mamata Banerjee advising women and girls not to go out at night. She argued that instead of restricting women’s movement, the state government should focus on improving law and order conditions.
Highlighting development priorities, Sitharaman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting fisheries and animal husbandry, which she said would benefit farmers and rural workers.
She also stressed that beyond MSMEs, the government is focused on reviving and upgrading traditional business clusters across India. Around 200 such legacy clusters—located in places like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kanpur, Bihar, and parts of West Bengal—have historically supported production and exports.
The government plans to modernize these clusters with funding and advanced tools to strengthen their competitiveness. Sitharaman concluded by reiterating that the Budget aims at inclusive development, rural empowerment, and industrial modernization.
