Govt in denial, says Oppn after FM claims zero probability of recession

The Opposition on Monday called Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s reply to the debate over price rise in Lok Sabha ‘dissatisfactory’. In the middle of Sitharaman’s reply, Congress members walked out of the House. After a few minutes, DMK members also walked out as a mark of protest.

Around 20 members across parties participated in the discussion. Even like-minded parties like Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal and the YSR Congress urged the government to intervene to arrest inflation.

Congress said Finance Minister’s reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on price rise was nothing but a “zero” and expectedly, a denial that a problem exists.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Centre had agreed to hold the debate on price rise only after pressure from the Opposition.

“After two weeks of obstinacy and cussedness, and because of sustained Opposition pressure, Modi Sarkar agreed to debate price rise in LS today.

“FM’s reply was as expected a denial that a problem exists. Households across the country will disagree with her. Tomorrow debate in Rajya Sabha,” Ramesh wrote on Twitter.

Later talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Congress member Manish Tewari, who initiated the debate, said that as per the government, “no inflation exists like no one killed Jessica. Everything is hunky-dory, that is your (government) response to the concerns raised by the Opposition”.

He also said the minister’s response was arrogant.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also expressed his dissatisfaction with the debate. “The prices are rising, people are facing issues, but they (govt) don’t care. 

They boast of giving away money to other countries, help them. If you can pay those in another country, why not do it for our own people.”