Who is real Finance Minister, Congress asks PM

Accusing the Narendra Modi government of ushering in financial anarchy and gross economic mismanagement in the country, Congress on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was the real Finance Minister of India.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said a board was needed to be put up saying 'Wanted: a Real Finance Minister' and the Prime Minister should clarify who holds the post.

"Financial anarchy and gross economic mismanagement is characteristic of Modi government and its Finance Ministry now. When India does not even know who is the Finance Minister, how will the Finance Ministry be run?

"PMO's website reflects Piyush Goyal is Finance Minister and Jaitley is a minister without portfolio. Finance Ministry's website says Jaitley is the Finance Minister.

"Shall we now disbelieve the Prime Minister's office and their website or shall we disbelieve the Finance Ministry?" he said.

"One minister (Goyal) has been barred from sitting on the Finance Minister's chair. He holds Finance Ministry's meetings sitting on a sofa while another minister, who is Minister without portfolio, continues to run the finance ministry through blogs written on Facebook," said Surjewala.

"Who is the real Finance Minister is the big mystery in this country. This is unprecedented," he said, demanding it be clarified if the PMO is lying or the Finance Ministry is.

--IANS

sid/vd