Page 61 - Nirmala Sitharaman

BJP wants to continue loot: Cong on Sitharaman's remarks on electoral bonds

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP over Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's reported remarks that electoral bonds will be brought back after consultations, alleging that after looting Rs 4 lakh crore of public money, they want to "continue the loot." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's attack on the BJP came after Sitharaman told the Hindustan Times that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to bring back electoral bonds in some form after consultations with all stakeholders if it is elected back to power after the 2024 general election. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has declared that if the BJP returns to power, they will bring back the Electoral Bonds that the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional and illegal!" "We know that the BJP looted Rs. 4 lakh crore of public money in the #PayPM scam. Now they want to continue the loot," he alleged. Ramesh listed what he said were the "four methods of PayPM." "Prepaid Bribery - .

India fastest growing economy during last 3 financial years: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Tuesday that India has been the fastest growing economy in the last three consecutive financial years and this growth can continue in the coming years as well. She said the next 25 years will be critical for India. In the financial year 2023-24, India witnessed a growth rate of eight per cent in three quarters and is expecting a similar level of growth in the fourth quarter, she said, adding it has been a sustainable growth. "India has been the fastest growing economy in the last three consecutive financial years and this growth can continue in the coming years as well. The next 25 years will be very critical for India," Sitharaman said in a dialogue programme with industrialists and businessmen. She said that foreign investors are coming to invest in India due to the credibility of its economy. "Due to the economic policy, larger macroeconomic stability, stable government, stable taxation policy, transparent tenders and ...

PM Modi's assertion of working 24x7 for 2047 not just slogan: Sitharaman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that he is committed '24x7 for 2047' is not just a slogan but what he really puts in practice, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Speaking at a function to release a book 'The Art of Implementation: How Modi ki Guarantee is Delivered', edited by BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Sitharaman listed out projects such as the opening of zero balance 'Jan Dhan' accounts, rolling out of Janaushadhi Kendra across the country and completing projects dating back to five decades as examples of the prime minister's work ethic. The finance minister said that after coming to power in 2014, the prime minister had spelt out a clear three-point agenda complete pending projects, ensure saturation coverage of all initiatives and help aspirational districts in implementing various development initiatives. "When the prime minister mentions '24x7 I am committed for the sake of 2047', it is not just a slogan. That is what he does," she ...

Sitharaman takes exception to Stalin's 'migratory bird' jibe at PM Modi

Senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday took exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's "migratory bird" jibe made at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent visits to the state, saying the very usage was not proper. She also slammed the ruling DMK over issues including the drug menace in the state. "The chief minister says the PM is coming to Tamil Nadu like a migratory bird. Anyone can travel anywhere in the country. The very usage is wrong... CM is in such a situation that he makes remarks like these," she said addressing an election meeting here. She was canvassing votes for the party's Krishnagiri nominee for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls, C Narasaimhan here. The PM has brought investments and the Defence Corridor, which has benefited Hosur in the district, but "they (DMK) come here only for collection," she said. In an apparent reference to the DMK's first family, she said there was much "proof" that alleged drug kingpin Jafar Sadiq, arrested by the NCB i

Reviving disinvestment

This must be a top priority for the next govt

Siddaramaiah accuses Sitharaman of lying on drought relief fund to K'taka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday alleged that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lied when she said that the drought relief fund was not released because the Model Code of Conduct is in force. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sitharaman sought to defend the Centre saying procedures to release funds had taken time by which time the MCC came into effect. She said that after the Karnataka government submitted a memorandum in October and the inter-ministerial central team conducted a spot assessment, the release of drought relief had to go through a few procedures and that it had taken time. According to the finance minister, the central authorities had written to the Election Commission on March 28 to get prior approval to convene a high-level committee, given that the Model Code of Conduct in force -- and the EC's approval is awaited with regard to the grant of drought relief. Siddaramaiah said the state had submitted its memorandum for drought relief in Decem

Worrying that Bengaluru suffers from water-related issues: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday hit out at the Siddaramaiah government over the water crisis in Bengaluru and alleged that many irrigation and water-related projects and initiatives were halted by the Congress when it came to power in Karnataka last year. She also criticised the Congress government for the deteriorating law and order in the state. Addressing a press conference here, the Union Minister said it is very worrying and sad that the city suffers from water-related problems. "Just water not being available is a problem. Since yesterday reports of unfortunately cholera possibly spreading in the town is also a very big concern...It is sort of a worry but I think it is also somewhat because people don't have enough water available, contaminated water also reaches people and as a result they are put to difficulties," she said. Blaming the state government for halting irrigation and water-related projects, Sitharaman said various steps that have been taken

DMK spreading false propaganda on Katchatheevu, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday accused the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu of spreading a false campaign on the Katchatheevu islet, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, and for making "irresponsible" statements on the issue. Then DMK president and TN Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was aware of the ruling Congress' move but did not object, she said. The Congress, which failed to come to power in Tamil Nadu after 1967, owes an explanation to the nation for the loss of the territory which former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi described as a tiny mass of rock, she said. Sitharaman claimed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had described Katchatheevu as a "nuisance." "Let them set right the lies they have been saying for half a century," Sitharaman told reporters after an interaction at the Viksit Bharat Ambassador campus dialogue programme here. Ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, the Katchatheevu issue has taken centre stage in the state, after Pr

Stability in G-sec yields bolstered financial mkt resilience: FM Sitharaman

Sitharaman lauded the RBI's resilience and leadership among its central bank counterparts, emphasizing its crucial role in maintaining financial stability

Affordable housing to loan subsidies: what is PMAY scheme all about

PMAY aims to provide affordable housing solutions to individuals and families from economically challenged backgrounds, making homeownership more accessible.

GDP set to grow at least 8% in Jan-March quarter: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Country's economy is projected to grow at 7.6% in the current fiscal year to March 31, according to the latest government estimates

Rajnath to head BJP's LS manifesto committee; Sitharaman made convenor

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will head the BJP's 27-member manifesto committee for the Lok Sabha polls as the party brainstorms and seeks suggestions from people across the country for its election promises. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be the committee's convener and another Union minister Piyush Goyal its co-convener. Several other Union ministers, besides chief ministers of states such as Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh, and seasoned hands like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje are among the members of the committee.

Cong leader Priyanka Gandhi slams govt over rising debt, inflation

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the BJP-led Centre on Saturday over its proposal to borrow more than Rs 14 lakh crore, asking why is the government "drowning the people in debt" when instead of relief being provided to them, the "burden of unemployment, inflation and economic crisis" is increasing. In her budget speech last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to borrow Rs 14.13 lakh crore by issuing dated securities to meet a revenue shortfall in the next financial year starting April 1. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said: "The finance ministry stated that the government is going to borrow more than Rs 14 lakh crore in the current financial year. Why?" In the 67 years since independence till 2014, the country's total debt was Rs 55 lakh crore, the Congress general secretary said while pointing out that in the last 10 years, the Narendra Modi government increased it to Rs 205 lakh crore. The Modi government has borrowed about Rs 150 lakh crore in the

BS Manthan: High tariffs not for ever, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Sitharaman listed the four Is - infrastructure, investment, innovation, and inclusiveness - as the pathway for achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047

BS Manthan: Reforms momentum will continue, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

From tariffs and Centre-state relations to how she unwinds, Sitharaman covered a vast ground at BS summit; Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spoke on the steps towards India becoming a product nation

Reform momentum to make India a developed nation by 2047: FM Sitharaman

Speaking at the Business Standard Manthan, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said imposition of tariffs was not her govt's permanent stance. She also spoke about PSU valuations and importance of reform momentum

I do not have the kind of money to contest LS elections: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said she declined the offer of the BJP to contest elections pleading that she did not have the 'kind of funds' required for fighting the Lok Sabha polls. The minister said that the BJP President (J P Nadda) gave her the option to contest either from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. "After thinking over a week or ten days, I just went back to say... maybe not. I do not have that kind of money to contest. I also have a problem whether it is Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. It's also going to be a question of various other winnability criteria that they use...Are you from this community or are you from that religion? Are you from this? I said no, I do not think I am going to able to do it," she said. Sitharaman was speaking at the TIMES NOW Summit 2024 here. "I am very grateful that they accepted my argument...So I am not contesting," she added. When asked why even the finance minister of the country does not have enough funds to fight Lok S

BS Manthan: From Viksit Bharat by 2047 to AI, Here's what happened on Day 1

At the Business Standard's annual event, FM Nirmala Sitharaman talked about opportunities in the public sector companies, while industry leaders talked about upcoming technologies and challenges

Tariffs not a permanent stance of our government: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

At Business Standard Manthan, Sitharaman said that in matters of economy, the differences between Centre and States must not arise on the grounds of politics

ED raids multiple Punjab locations in guava orchards compensation 'scam'

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple locations in Punjab in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged guava orchards compensation "scam", official sources said. The ED case was registered after the federal agency took cognisance of a Punjab Vigilance Bureau FIR pertaining to alleged embezzlement of nearly Rs 137 crore released as compensation for guava orchards on land acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). The premises of some senior government officials and some private persons are being covered, the sources said. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had arrested a number of people, including some horticulture department officials, in this case, they said.