12 February 2025, New Delhi: Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday criticized Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks in Parliament, alleging that she is “living on a different planet” for claiming there is no rise in unemployment or inflation.
“I don’t know which planet she is living on. She is saying there is no inflation, no rise in unemployment, no rise in prices,” Priyanka Gandhi told reporters after Parliament proceedings concluded for the day. She left the House with her brother and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Her comments came after Sitharaman’s speech in the Rajya Sabha, where she defended the Union Budget, emphasizing its vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047. The budget, she said, focuses on agriculture, MSMEs, rural development, and empowering the poor, youth, farmers, and women.
Sitharaman also highlighted the reduction in indirect tax rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Responding to a query by AITC MP Nadimul Haque, she stated that the previous indirect tax regime had an average tax of 15.8%, which has now decreased to 11.3% under GST.
“Earlier, the tax levied on everyday items could have been 15.8% without burdening the consumer. Today, the GST rate has come down to 11.3%,” Sitharaman noted, emphasizing that the reductions were made through decisions in the GST Council.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned until February 13 due to Guru Ravidas Jayanti on Wednesday.
The heated exchange over the budget reflects ongoing political tensions, with the opposition criticizing the government’s economic policies and the ruling party defending its fiscal roadmap.
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