New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021.
Lok Sabha on Saturday convened at 10 am instead of the usual 4 pm, wherein Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to the general discussion on the Union Budget. The new timing of the House was announced by Speaker Om Birla after the Question Hour on Friday. Since Rajya Sabha went on a recess on Friday and would reconvene on March 8, Lok Sabha met in the morning. Rajya Sabha has been meeting at 9 am due to COVID-19 distancing norms. Some Rajya Sabha members also sit in the Lok Sabha chamber. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP had directed all its members to be present in the House on Saturday, party sources said.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS
11:22 am: Overall allocation provided for the welfare of SCs have shown an increase from Rs 83,257 cr in 2020-21, compared to Rs 1,26,259 in 2021-22. Overall allocation provided for the welfare of STs have also shown an increase from Rs 53,653 cr from 2020-21 to Rs 79,942 cr in 2021-22, says Sitharaman
11:14 am: Some members have questioned whether allocation for minority affairs, the allocation for SC and ST has been reduced. No, they have not. Total allocation for minority affairs is Rs 4,811 crores in 2021-22 which is an 8.6% increase for the ministry, higher than actual expenditure, says Sitharaman
11:05 am: Where are the cronies? They're hiding probably in the shadow of that party which has been rejected by the people. The shadows who were invited to even develop a port. They invited, no open tenders, no global tenders, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman
11:04 am: Who are our cronies? Our cronies are the common 'janta' of this country, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha
11:00 am: I'll read up figures to say what's the allocation now... Under revenue Rs 1,16,931 cr in 2013-14, Rs 86,741 cr capital in 2013-14, under pensions Rs 44,500 cr in 2013-14. What is it now? Rs 2,09,319 cr under revenue, Rs 1,13,734 cr under capital and Rs 1,33,825 cr under pension, says FM
10:55 am: PM SVANidhi Yojana, for those who are constantly accusing us of dealing with cronies - SVANidhi doesn't go to cronies. Damads get land in states which are governed by some parties - Rajasthan, Haryana once upon a time, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha
10:51 am: 'Hum 2 hamare 2' is that - we're 2 people taking care of the party and there are 2 other people who I've to take care, daughter and damad will take care of that. We don't do that. Rs 10,000 is given to 50 lakh street traders as working capital for 1 year. They aren't anyone's cronies, says FM
10:46 am: There is mention about the defence getting no mention in speech, why hiding details about Defence?...Rs 1,16,931 cr Defence expenditure in 2013-14, this being so huge, unless we pair it down into 3 compartments, you aren't going to get a true picture-Revenue, Capital, Pension, says Sitharaman
10:39 am: I will firmly establish that in spite of bringing water & sanitation, the allocations to the core health has not come down. On the contrary, it has gone up, says Sitharaman
10:34 am: In the Budget speech, I very clearly said, we're taking a holistic approach to health. It's addressing preventive health, it is addressing curative health, it is also addressing well-being. Otherwise, you are not going to get holistic health-related governance, says Sitharaman
10:27 am: Respecting Indian entrepreneurial skills, Indian managerial skills, Indian trade skills, Indian business skills, Indian youth, Jana Sangh onwards, BJP has consistently believed in India. We didn't borrow something from somewhere and gave a hybrid, says Sitharaman
10:24 am: Reforms will lay the path for making India one of the top economies of the world, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman
10:21 am: The Union Budget has set the pace for India to become Aatmanirbhar, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha
10:19 am: This Budget draws from the experience of the prime minister when he was the chief minister - on the ground in Gujarat, seen so many revivals happening at a time when the license quota raj was going away post-1991 and then based on that experience, commitment to reform was blended into this Budget, says Sitharaman
10:13 am: Stimulus plus reforms - an opportunity has been taken out of the pandemic situation. A challenging situation like pandemic didn't deter the government from taking up reforms that are going to be necessary for sustaining long term growth for this country, says Sitharaman
10:04 am: Lok Sabha proceedings begin with MPs chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'
