Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman came down heavily on Opposition in Parliament on Friday and charged the previous UPA government put family first instead of the country during the 2008 global financial crisis.
Presenting the white paper on the economy during the UPA regime, the finance minister charged the UPA regime lacked of transparency and sincerity. Comparing the manner in which the two governments handled the economy during global crises- the 2008 financial crisis during the UPA regime and the COVID pandemic during the NDA regime – Sitharaman said the Modi government worked with sincerity and pulled the economy out of 'fragile five' and sent it to top five globally. “It is now on the verge of becoming one of the top three global economies,” the finance minister said.
“10 years of one government with some crisis and 10 years of a different government with different crisis. The comparison shown in this 'White Paper' clearly says how if the government handles it with true sincerity, transparency and putting the nation first, the results are there for everybody to see,” Sitharaman said initiating the discussion on the white paper.
“When you don't put the nation first, when you put your first family first, and when you have other consideration than transparency, the results are out there for you to see. So what happened after 2008 when there was a global financial crisis and what happened post-COVID shows clearly that if the intent of the government is sincere results will be good,” Sitharaman criticised.
Sitharaman said the Modi government handled the much more "deadly" Covid crisis with sincerity and dedication, unlike UPA in 2008, which did not have "clean" intention.
The party which could not handle the global financial crisis and continued with corruption and scandal is now giving lecture to the Modi government, the minister said, amid shouting by opposition members.
“In the UPA government, decision-making came to a standstill due to corruption and scandals in defence, compromising defence preparedness. The government delayed the acquisition of artillery and anti-aircraft guns, fighters, submarines, night fighting gear and a host of equipment upgrades," ANI reported quoting the report.
The government charged controversies such as 2G spectrum scam, coal gate scam and the Common Wealth Games (CWG) reflected poorly on India's image as an investment destination.
-with agency inputs.