FM cites PC from 2012, fights oppositions elitist tag

TNN | Updated: Dec 6, 2019, 6:16 IST

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday hit back at the opposition for labelling her “elitist” for her comment of not coming from an onion-consuming family. Pointing out that while her response in Lok Sabha elaborated on the measures taken to supplement onion supply, she said the opposition had chosen to pick on her eating habits to attack her.
“My comment of coming from a family that doesnt have much to do with onion was taken out from my reply in Lok Sabha but not the information shared in the 20-minute articulation of steps taken by the government to tackle the surge in onion prices, including rushing truck loads from different states,” the finance minister said.
“Criticism of the economy is welcome… this government is continuously responding and steps are being taken …You may think it is adequate or inadequate, I am willing to buy that. But not an allegation that this government is elitist,” she said. She went on to cite the governments pro-poor policies to ask, “Was free LPG connection scheme, Jan Dhan Yojna, PM Awas Yojna and Ayushman Bharat for elites?”
The FM was speaking during the debate in Rajya Sabha on the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was passed by the House and will now replace the ordinance promulgated in September offering cuts in corporate tax rates.
Sitharaman was attacked by opposition parties for being “elitist” and unsympathetic to woes of the common man who faced the brunt of rise in onion prices in recent months.
While reacting to Chidambarams avocado comment, Sitharaman, without naming him, went on to read a purRead More – Source