Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Rebukes Congress MP Over Chaudhary Charan Singh Remark

In response to discussions on the White Paper on the economy presented to Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Congress leader KC Venugopal for stating in the Rajya Sabha that Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna by the government, became PM because of his party. Sitharaman emphasized that it is the people who make Prime Ministers, not political parties.

The remarks were part of the Finance Minister's response during the discussion on the White Paper on the economy, which triggered a blame game between the government and opposition benches. Sitharaman specifically addressed Venugopal's comments on the Bharat Ratna decision, stating, "I hope the Congress party is not living in a myth that they make PM, they throw PM, they bring in PM, they reject PM. No, people have rejected the Congress."

The Finance Minister's critique is in line with her ongoing criticism of the previous Congress-led UPA government, as described in the White Paper, which accuses the UPA of mismanaging the economy. Sitharaman defended the Bharat Ratna decision, highlighting that in 1979, Indira Gandhi's Congress decided to support Chaudhary Charan Singh, but he resigned within 24 days after Congress withdrew its support.

Addressing opposition questions on the timing of the White Paper, Sitharaman stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided not to disclose the poor state of the economy earlier to prevent affecting confidence in institutions, investors, and the public. She emphasized the need for honest, transparent, and accountable governance, saying, "There should be a record for our posterity."

In Lok Sabha on Friday, Sitharaman criticized the 10-year rule of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, citing a "leadership problem" with an "extra-constitutional" body – the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. She highlighted the Modi government's two-track approach, implementing pending reforms and initiating new ones since 2014. Sitharaman expressed optimism about India becoming the third-largest economy in the world.

Congress leader Venugopal criticized the White Paper, accusing the Modi government of hiding "dark truths" about rising unemployment, inflation, farmers' stress, and the impact of demonetization on MSMEs. Sitharaman countered these claims, stating that the Modi government has kept inflation in check, and MSMEs have flourished during its tenure.