Cong attacks govt, asks Nirmala for a debate on package

nNEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday accused the central government of misleading the people in the name of an economic package and called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “walk the talk” by giving money in the hands of the poor and also to small and medium enterprises to help revive the economy hit by Covid-19 outbreak.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told reporters through a video conference that the measures announced by the Centre amounted to only 1.6% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP), which is ~3.22 lakh crore instead of ~20 lakh crore, the amount announced by the PM.

He also asked finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to participate in a debate on the package. “I am questioning the finance minister, disputing the Prime Minister’s announcement and challenging the government to disprove me on the numbers given by me and am ready for a debate with the finance minister.”

Sharma demanded that the Centre provide answers to the country on the plight of migrants forced to walk on roads due to lack of planning amid lockdown.

On the issue of the migrants, BJP chief JP Nadda tweeted: “FM Nirmala Sitharaman Ji has today announced additional allocation of ~40,000 crore for MGNREGS scheme. I congratulate Hon PM Narendra Modi Ji for his concern and timely initiative to provide adequate work and income earning opportunities to migrants.”

Former finance minister P Chidambaram thanked Sitharaman for “acknowledging” that the additional expenditure can be met only by additional borrowing. “We are not agreed on the amount of Additional Expenditure involved in your PMGKY and 5-tranche package. When you do the Additional Borrowing we will know the answer. The Additional Borrowing and Additional Expenditure (over and above the Expenditure Budget of ~ 30,42,230 crore) will be the true measure of the Fiscal Stimulus,” he said.