The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has wasted a decade, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she tore into the Opposition front while replying to the no-confidence motion in the parliament.
Her criticism of the UPA, the Opposition front which was in power during 2004-2014 and is now known by the acronym ‘INDIA’, was followed by a report card of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Nearly an hour into her speech, Congress, DMK, Trinamool and Left parties staged a walkout accusing the Finance Minister of misleading the Lok Sabha.
Ms Sitharaman said the UPA had no credibility and it reminded the people of corruption and cronyism, due to which the Opposition parties have chosen the ‘INDIA’ name for their front.
‘INDIA’ stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, and comprises 26 parties, including the Congress, Trinamool, DMK, RJD, and others.
The minister also took a swipe at the contenders in the Opposition front and pointed out how they are opposed to each other in different states.
“It’s a bizarre partnership. In Punjab, Congress and AAP are fighting. In West Bengal, Trinamool, Left and Congress are fighting. In Kerala, Left and Congress are fighting. In Jammu and Congress, National Conference and PDP are fighting,” said the Finance Minister.
“The UPA has wasted a whole decade, but every crisis has changed to reform now. Under the NDA, we have seen high growth and low inflation,” she added.
She also highlighted how her government has revolutionized the finance sector with the UPI (Unified Payments Interface).
“UPI has received praise globally. We can use that technology to build partnerships in France, Australia, Middle East and even the UK. Even IMF said in its statement that India has set a global standard with UPI,” she added.
Ms Sitharaman said the government’s policies support start-ups which have seen tremendous gains. “We have transformed from being an importer to an exporter country,” she added.
Public sector banks have recorded profits of over Rs 1 lakh crore, she added.
“The Congress political dynasty was benefitting from plugging leakages and major scams. But NDA has put an end to it. Rs 2.76 lakh crore profit was recorded because we stopped the leakages,” she said.
NDA, or National Democratic Alliance, is the ruling front led by Ms Sitharaman’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The minister pointed to her government’s focus on the healthcare system and that now there are 23 AIIMS in the country, as compared to just seven in 2014, when the Modi government was voted to power.
“AIIMS in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai is being set up. AIIMS usually has 750 beds, but AIIMS Madurai will have 900 beds. MBBS classes with 50 students have already started since April 2022,” she said.
Taking a dig at the previous UPA government, she said, “Launching a scheme is easy, but implementing them is difficult.”
She also highlighted her government’s efforts to tackle inflation, including the tomato prices that skyrocketed in the recent past.
“We have imported tomatoes from Nepal. Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) will get tomatoes at subsidised rates as low as Rs 70. Opposition-ruled states have not lowered the price of fuel, as a result of which inflation pressures remain high,” said the Minister.
She also slammed the DMK, reminding them of a 1989 incident in which former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa (then leader of opposition)’s “saree was pulled and DMK members laughed at her”.
“Jayalalithaa took a vow she will return to the assembly only after becoming the Chief Minister, and two years later, she did return as the Chief Minister,” she added.
