Participating in the debate on Friday, Saket Gokhale (TMC) slammed the government for fielding ministers to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for taking a hit and keeping the excise duty low.
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“This is being done when four states are going to polls. Not a single rupee was passed on to consumers when crude was brought at low rates (in the last four years). Will the Finance Minister give assurance that prices will not go up after polls? One Nation-One Election is a bad idea as the government will keep looting people for five years,” Gokhale said.
He also raked up the issue of increase in LPG cylinder prices by Rs 60 and the cut in subsidy.
“India has only 74 days of crude reserves left,” Gokhale said, comparing it to higher reserves available in Japan, South Korea, and China among other nations.
The Centre has not given Rs 2 Lakh Crore of due to the West Bengal government, the TMC leader said, alleging that there is an undeclared emergency.Congress member Shaktisinh Gohil charged the Modi government with not being sensitive to the Indian farmer. He cited the case of US farmers who own huge fields and have much higher yield, insisting Indian farmers cannot compete with them. “If you keep bending like this to the US, Indian farmers will continue to be forced to commit suicide,” he said.
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Gohil further alleged that the Centre is using funds allocated under one head for another scheme. On the sops given for import of critical minerals, the Congress leader said India’s own reserves will not be utilized due to this altered policy.
He maintained that the Gujarat government under Modi’s chief ministership had wasted Rs 17,000 Crore in exploring gas on the KG Basin project claiming reserves exist.
P Wilson (DMK) argued that income inequality has increased in the country. “Top 10% of the population own 58% of the country’s wealth. Ambani’s wealth has increased 500% and Adani by 1000%,” he said, adding that he is not against big business but the government has not attempted redistribution of wealth.
Wilson maintained the government has not given legal guarantee for MSP to farmers.
Sanjay Seth (BJP) defended the budget, insisting the economy is growing at a fast pace despite global challenges. Excise duty on petrol and diesel has been cut and petrol with 20% ethanol is sold. He also emphasized that the debt-to-GDP ratio and inflation in India is better than many countries.
“Several steps have been taken in the Finance Bill for the welfare of students, poor… Simplification of the tax system has been done for business and individuals while penalties have been removed,” he said.
Seth also highlighted the removal of criminal punishments, reforms in corporate tax, and reduction of slabs in GST 2.0.
