'Fake' Parliament question and answer was in circulation: FM

A "fake" Parliament question and answer related to retirement age of government employees was circulating on social media yesterday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today, describing it as a "political conspiracy".
Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha that he had come across an email being sent through the social media about a "fake Parliament Question and a fake Answer".
He said the question was whether the NDA Government intends to reduce the age of retirement to 58 and the "fake" answer was, 'Yes'.
The Finance Minister told the House that no such question has been asked, and no such answer has been given.

"It is a structured part of a political conspiracy that these myths are spread," he said while replying to debate on Appropriation Bill.
The Finance Minister said "myths" are also being spread about MNREGA, which was brought during the previous UPA rule, and he was trying to address members' concerns related to it.

"One myth is that the expenditure on MNREGA has been cut down," he said, asserting that no such thing has been done.
Speaking further on the discussion on the Appropriation (No4) Bill, 2014, Jaitley also assured the members that government would pass the benefits of decrease of oil prices to the consumer while hitting out at the tendency to be populist.

He said as far as Petroleum prices were concerned, the new government has reduced it eight times.
He, however, added that it is very easy for people to be populist and say don't levy a tax, but keep providing the services.
"This is an economy which is unknown to me. So, if you want me to maintain the social sector expenditure, if you want me to maintain all the expenditure, somebody has to foot the bill," Jaitley said.