NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of “crony capitalism,” emphasizing the Modi government’s commitment to welfare programs. In a post on X, she outlined various initiatives, highlighting that farmers, the poor, women, youth, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are central to their governance approach.
Sitharaman stated, “We are focused on the welfare of common people,” asserting that since 2014, the government has served all sectors and sections of society through its policies and initiatives. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had warned of an impending economic crisis, claiming that the “Ambani-Adani structure” built by the government would collapse, stating, “It’s sad that common people will have to suffer.”
In her rebuttal, Sitharaman urged Congress leaders to refrain from obstructing progress if they are unable to contribute positively to nation-building, declaring that a responsible opposition does not engage in fear-mongering. She highlighted several successful programs, including the opening of 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts and 57 crore Mudra accounts, and questioned the opposition’s narrative regarding the impact of such initiatives.
Sitharaman mentioned various schemes such as the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, PM Internship Scheme, e-Shram cards, and the MGNREGA Act, which guarantees 125 days of employment without leaks. She also noted that 9 crore beneficiaries have received disbursements under the PM Kisan scheme. The minister added that the government shielded farmers from high international fertilizer prices and introduced the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 for MSMEs, with agriculture credit growth at 15.7% and MSME credit growth at 33% last year.
