Farmers Movement Archive

Sitharaman counters Rahul Gandhi's 'Hum do, Hamare do' with MNREGA data

The pandemic did not deter the government to take up reforms which will ensure sustained growth of the economy of the country, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday in her reply to the discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha.Giving back to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Hum do, Hamare do' which Gandhi had raised in the Lok Sabha to attack the government over farm laws. “Years ago there was a family planning slogan — hum do, hamare do (We two and ours two), but just like Corona has returned in another form, this slogan too has made a comeback. Today, four people run the country — hum do, hamare do,” Gandhi had said, without taking any name.Click here for the live updates from the Lok SabhaNirmala Sitharaman used the same slogan and said though Congress comes up with "very good schemes", it lacks the will of using those schemes properly as those schemes turn into devices to only favour "cronies" and "hum do hamare do"."Take the credit of giving birth to MNREGA. But also take credit for mismanaging it, for giving money to ghost workers," Sitharaman said.Addressing Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, Sitharaman said, "Kerala invited one crony to develop a port — no bidding, just invitation. Because Kerala has no damad, Damad is here. Damads get land in states which are governed by some parties - Rajasthan, Haryana once upon a time""The budget combines stimulus with reforms and has an element to provide impetus to make India one of the top economies of the world in the coming decades. The budget took a courageous approach," the finance minister said.Attacking the tradition of India's post-Independence 'licence quota raj' Sitharaman said, "This budget draws on the experience of Prime Minister when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. He saw how licence raj constricted India's economy."Since Jan Sangh days, respecting India's entrepreneur skill and India's taxpayers has been followed, Nirmala Sitharaman said amid resistance from opposition leaders that the reference to Jan Sangh was irrelevant. "It is relevant as it was the precursor of the BJP," Sitharaman said.

Hindustan Times

13-02-2021

India