NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday strongly countered Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's allegations of 'crony capitalism', asserting that the Modi government's policies are centered on the welfare of common people. In a series of posts on X, she highlighted various welfare schemes and initiatives, emphasizing that farmers, the poor, women, youth, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are at the core of the governance structure.
Government's Commitment to Welfare
"We are focused on the welfare of common people," Sitharaman stated in her social media posts. She asserted that since 2014, the Modi government has served every sector and every section of society through its policies and initiatives. The Finance Minister listed several achievements, including the opening of 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts and 57 crore Mudra accounts. She questioned the opposition's motives, asking whether schemes like PM Vishwakarma Yojana, PM Internship scheme, e-Shram cards, and Ayushman Bharat were not aimed at benefiting the common citizen.
Response to Rahul Gandhi's Allegations
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had warned of an impending economic storm, alleging that the "Ambani-Adani structure that the government built will come crumbling down." He expressed concern that common people would suffer as a result. Countering this, Sitharaman accused the Congress of engaging in fear mongering. "If Congress and its leaders cannot contribute positively to nation-building, they should stop being obstructionists. A responsible opposition does not engage in fear mongering," she said.
Key Government Initiatives Highlighted
Sitharaman underscored the government's efforts to protect farmers by not passing on high international fertilizer prices. She also highlighted the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 for MSMEs and noted that agriculture credit growth was 15.7% last year, while MSME credit growth stood at 33%. "Are these not for the welfare of the people?" she asked, challenging the opposition's narrative.
The Finance Minister's rebuttal comes amid ongoing political sparring over economic policies and the government's performance, with the ruling party defending its track record and the opposition questioning the benefits to the common man.
