Sitharaman Archives - Lokmarg

Prices Of Perishable Items Within Tolerance Band: Sitharaman

By LokMarg 6th February 2024

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said prices of perishable items have come down and are well within the tolerance band.

To a query raised by AIADMK’s M Thambi Durai on the rise in retail inflation, during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha today, she detailed the interventions made by her government to keep in check the price rise.

“The prices have started coming down and are well within the tolerance band. Lots of steps have been taken by the government, particularly for meeting the shortage in supply of perishables,” Sitharaman said.

Retail inflation in India, though, is in the RBI’s 2-6 per cent comfort level but is above the ideal 4 per cent scenario. In December, the retail inflation was 5.69 per cent.

India does not grow enough pulses to meet its annual demand, and much of it is met through imports.

“We don’t grow enough of pulses in this country. So pulse prices are (high) normally due to a shortfall in supply. in anticipation, depending upon the crop estimates, we tie up for imports,” the finance minister said.

India imports tur dal from Mozambique, Myanmar, Tanzania, Sudan, and Malawi, and to a lesser extent from Kenya, and Nigeria.

Sitharaman apprised the Upper House that importers have shipped in about 8.79 lakh tonne tur dal in 2023. For Masur, the imports were at 15.14 LMT in the last calendar year.

As part of the government’s initiative to give respite to its citizens, subsidized chana is available at Rs 60 per kg for a 1 kg pack, and at Rs 55 per kg for a 30 kg pack.

Till January 2024, about 2.97 lakh tonnes of chana have been sold at subsidized rates.

“This Bharat Dal that is coming out at a concessional price is available on ONDC, Blinkit, Jio Mart, and all other big retail outlets. Such steps are also being for tomatoes and others as well,” Sitharaman said.

Onion, another perishable, is also being offloaded in the market at a subsidized rate of Rs 25. Faced with rising onion prices, the central government has been releasing the staple vegetable from its buffer stock.

Buffer stock is maintained to meet any exigencies and for price stabilisation if rates go up significantly during the lean supply season.

Export restrictions were also imposed on the staple vegetable.

“We have curtailed their exports so that their prices can be kept within a reasonable limit,” Sitharaman said.

India has prohibited the export of onions till March 2024. The export of onions will be, however, allowed on the basis of permission granted by the central government to other countries based on the request made by the countries. (ANI)

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Wash Your Faces With Dettol: Sitharaman Counters Cong

By LokMarg 10th February 2023

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Congress leaders should ‘wash’ their faces with ‘Dettol’ before they talk about corruption.

She made the scathing remark in the Lok Sabha after Congress members levelled corruption allegations against the Narendra Modi government.
“Before you speak of corruption, wash your faces with Dettol. Look who’s talking about corruption?” Sitharaman retorted to Congress’ allegations of graft.

Addressing the Lower House, the Union Finance minister also hit out at states which did not reduce VAT on feul even after the Centre decreased it twice in the last couple of years.

She asked Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi to ask his party, which is in power in Himachal Pradesh, why it hiked VAT on diesel after winning the Assembly elections.

“When the import price increased, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reduced the excise duty on petroluem products twice — in November 2021 and June 2022 — so as to reduce the price burden on the public. While we reduced the duty on fuel, there were states which did just the opposite. I want to name them. Gogoi-ji should ask the (Congress-ruled) Himachal government why they increased the VAT on diesel by Rs 3 after winning the (Assembly) elections,” Sitharaman said.

The Opposition MPs protested against the remark, to which the Finance Minister said it was in the Congress’ DNA to level allegations and create a ruckus when the government responds to them.

“You are the one who increased VAT (on fuel). Think before you speak. It is in the Congress’ culture to level allegations and create a ruckus and stage a walkout when we repond to them. This is their way,” she said.

Naming the Opposition-ruled states that increased VAT on fuel, Sitharaman said, “Punjab increased VAT on petrol and diesel this month. Kerala government, too announced a social security cess of Rs 2 per litre of petrol and diesel this month,” she said.

Sitharaman took a jibe at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who mistakenly read from last year’s Budget in the state Assembly on Friday, saying “there is some problem in Rajasthan”.

“They read last year’s Budget this year. While I concede that anybody can make mistakes, I pray to God that no one lands in a situation where he ends up reading last year’s Budget this year. But it happened today,” she said. (ANI)

Sisodia Writes To Sitharaman, Demands Rs 927Cr For G20

By LokMarg 4th February 2023

The Delhi government demanded funds from the central government for the preparations related to G20 events in the national capital.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio of the finance department, wrote a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the matter. Sisodia said that Delhi does not get any additional funds from the Centre, in such a situation Rs 927 crore should be given separately to Delhi for preparations related to G20.
“It is a matter of great pleasure for India that this time India is hosting the G20 meeting. It is a matter of happiness for us Delhiites that most of the important activities of G20 are going to happen in Delhi only. The Government of Delhi will fully cooperate with the Government of India in the direction of making the organization of G-20 meeting a success,” Sisodia wrote.

Under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said it will be the endeavour of the entire Delhi government that there should be no shortage in hosting the international guests who came to our place during the G20 meeting. “We will make sure that they return with unforgettable memories from Delhi as the capital of 21st-century India,” he stressed.

In this direction, the Deputy CM said various departments of the Delhi government have made a framework for organizing various activities and programs ranging from infrastructure development. In this, there are proposals for beautification of specific areas around the major venues of G20 and organizing some specific activities and programs on this occasion at prominent places in Delhi, he said.

Demanding extra funds, Sisodia said that the Delhi government needs Rs 927 crore for the plans made for the special preparations for the G-20. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinay Kumar Saxena is also constantly reviewing these efforts. The Lieutenant Governor has also given consent to all these efforts and programs for the preparations for the G20, he said.

“You already know that no money is being given by the Government of India to the Delhi Government as a share in central taxes. Nor is any additional grant given to the Delhi Government by the Government of India. Even the amount given to the municipal corporations of all the states of the country according to their population, is not given to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In such a situation, it is obvious that it will not be easy for the Delhi government to spend Rs 927 crores to prepare the G20 meeting with its regular limited resources,” Sisodia wrote.

“So I request you that considering the importance of the G-20 meeting and in Delhi Keeping in view the need for preparations to make this event a success, Rs 927 crore required for this should be made available by the Central Government. This will help the Delhi government to implement all these schemes and programs smoothly and all the preparations will be completed in time. I have full hope that the Delhi government will get positive cooperation from you in this direction” Sisodia concluded.

India assumed the G20 Presidency from Indonesia on December 1, 2022, and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in the country this year. The theme for G20 is ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’ with the motto of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.

The G20 or Group of 20 is the one of world’s leading platforms for international economic cooperation. The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues.

The G20 or Group of is made up of 19 countries and the European Union. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

This year’s G20 summit is also attended by nine guest countries as well as the invited International Organisations. (ANI)