Parliament Budget Session 2024 Highlights: ‘We corrected all misgovernance, focussed on reforms’: FM Sitharaman speaks on ‘White Paper’ amid Opposition uproar

After FM Nirmala Sitharaman tabled and presented the 'White Paper on Indian Economy' in the Parliament's Budget Session, PM Modi has also spoken about it.

Addressing the Times Groups' ET NOW Global Business Summit, Modi said that in the decade before 2014, the policies on which the country was running was taking the country on the path of bankruptcy. "On this, we have tabled a white paper on the economy in Parliament," he said.

"The discussion on it is ongoing. Since there is such a big audience, I would like to state my 'Mann ki Baat' also that the white paper that I have brought now, I could have brought in 2014. If my aim had been to derive political gain, then I would have kept those figures before the people 10 years ago," Modi said.

On defence sector

In her response, Sitharaman highlighted that the UPA government indulged in “glaring mismanagement” of the defence sector. “Critical shortage of ammunition & defence equipment was the main feature of 2014 when we inherited the economy. Bullet proof jackets were not available for our soldiers. Night vision goggles were not available,” Sitharaman said.

On inflation

Sitharaman also to the inflation-related queries raised by several Opposition members during the discussion on Friday afternoon.

“From 2004-14, the average annual inflation in India was 8.2 per cent. Further, in the last three years of the UPA government, the retail inflation was 9.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the global inflation was around three to four per cent,” she said.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday called the White Paper brought by the government a "granary of concoctions and a mountain of lies", and said the document is nothing but an "electoral manifesto".

- He said the objective of bringing the paper is just to score electoral and brownie points.

- The UPA government enacted Acts like the Right to Education, and Right to Food that strengthened the social, political, and economic foundation of the country, the Congress leader said.

From 2004-14, the average annual inflation in India was 8.2%

Further, in the last three years of UPA government, the retail inflation was 9.8%. Meanwhile, the global inflation was aorund 3-4% then.

"Our inflation was not above 5%. It is not good that those who kept inflation in double digits are speaking on this," Sitharaman said responding to the inflation-related queries raised by several Opposition members during the discussion.

As the Opposition interrupted Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her reply on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy', she took a jibe by saying: "I won't mislead the House. I am not Congress."

Talking about national and internal security, Finance Minsiter Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted lack of ammunition and defence-related resources during the UPA government. She further spoke about the improvement in the defence sector after BJP came to power in 2014.

She targetted the Congress party about the 2008 global financial crisis and the alleged signing of 'MOU with China'.

The Opposition in the Lok Sabha created an uproar as Sitharaman began her reply on Friday evening.

In her reply to the discussion on 'White Paper', Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said PM Modi had mentioned the need for a 'white paper' during a media interview in 2015-16.

But it was put on hold due to "national interests" and that it would stop investors from coming in.

"The two rails on which the White Paper is based are:

- To correct misgovernance 

- To nudge and incentivise the economy so the moving forward is smoothened."

Following the opening remarks on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy' this morning, FM Nirmala Sitharaman begins her reply to the discussion which ensued through the afternoon in the Lok Sabha.

Amid uproar in the Lower House, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raises questions on the 'white paper' and other "ghotalas (scams)" during the BJP government post 2014. He demands answers in the reply Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present in the Lok Sabha today.

He ended his speech with a few Hindi lines that underscored the secular fabric of India.

Following Chowdhury's speech, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla retorted: "He wants to hold a discussion on the Ram Mandir."

"We had to show the difference between what you (Congress) did and what BJP did for the country in the last 10 years," BJP MP from South Delhi Ramesh Bidhuri said, in a sharp response to Congress MP Manish Tiwari.

Tiwari earlier spoke on the 'White Paper' in Lok Sabha, and said: 'This is not a white paper, this is a black brush'. He added, that it is nothing but a 'political manifesto'.

"It is a politically coloured paper," MP Supriya Sule said highlighting the definition of a white paper.

She said: "A white paper typically provides information about a specific issue.It is to make people aware of the nature and scope of the problem and the possible ways to resolve it. But this is just a comparison of record of economic governance under two governments."

The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were passed by the Rajya Sabha today.

Earlier this week, the Lok Sabha had passed it as well.

The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, moved by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, seeks to provide reservation to OBCs in local bodies in the Union territory.

As of now, there is no provision for reservation of seats for OBCs in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir.

"What Congress and (Jawaharlal) Nehru had done then created momentum which is being carried forward," said DMK leader Dr DNV Senthilkumar adding that everything cannot credited to "Modi, Modi, Modi..."

This comes in the ongoing debate on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy' presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

As FM Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to reply on the 'White Paper' discussion at 5.30 pm, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raises specific questions seeking her reply.

'White Paper on Indian Economy' does not speak about demonitisation which is considered their 'masterstroke', said Owaisi.

"Present a white paper on the number of deaths in the Muslim communtiy due to mob lynching post 2014," he demanded.

While FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented her opening remarks on the 'White Paper' in the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha today took up for consideration and passage three bills on Jammu and Kashmir that seek to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in local bodies and modify the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Union territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this week.

During the Budget Session of the Parliament today, PM Modi was seen having lunch with fellow MPs from across party lines. 

The budget session, which is the last Parliament session before Lok Sabha polls expected in April-May this year, is slated to conclude on February 10.

The 59-page ‘White Paper on the Indian Economy’ said when the Modi government assumed office in 2014, the economy was in a “fragile state”; public finances were in “bad shape”; there was economic mismanagement and financial indiscipline, and widespread corruption. “It was a crisis situation. The responsibility to mend the economy step by step and to put the governance systems in order was enormous,” said the paper which was tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament.

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BJP leader Nishikant Dubey has alleged that the Congress and its allies are blind to corruption and nepotism. They were only looking at ways to defend misdeeds during their 10 year tenure in the government, he said during the discussion on the 'White Paper' tabled by FM Nirmala Sitharaman.

Nishikant Dubey also said that the time period between 1947 and 1990 can be dubbed as 'licence-permit raj' while the period between 2004-2014 as 'loot raj'. He also claimed that the period between 2014 and 2029 when the BJP ruled the country for two terms can be described as 'Ram raj'.

After Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman initiated discussion on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy', the Congress on Friday alleged that the Modi government's white paper on the economy was a "white lie paper."

They asserted that it should have come out with such a document on issues such as unemployment, demonetisation, border tensions and Manipur.

Asked about the white paper by the government, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "This is not a white paper but a white lie paper. Our Congress president (Mallikarjun Kharge) yesterday released a black paper '10 saal anyay kaal'. The answer to this white paper is in that black paper. The black paper was a surgical strike on the white paper." "The white paper (of the government) makes no mention of demonetisation, unemployment, inflation, and the rising economic disparity. The issues on which they should come out with a white paper is the border situation with China, border tensions, we have been demanding a white paper on that, they are silent on that," Ramesh told reporters outside Parliament.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday tore into UPA accusing it of economic mismanagement during the 2008 global financial crisis, saying the Congress put the "first family first" and brought the economy down to 'fragile five.'

Initiating the debate on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy and its impact on the lives of people of India,' Sitharaman said the Common Wealth Games (CWG), held during the UPA regime, brought "bad name" to the country, but India's G20 presidency under the Narendra Modi government earned India global respect.

Substitute motions were moved by opposition members Saugata Roy (TMC) and NK Premchandran disapproving the White Paper. Sitharaman said the Modi government worked with sincerity and pulled the economy out of 'fragile five' and sent it to top five globally. 

"Ten years of one government with some crisis and 10 years of a different government with different crisis. The comparison shown in this 'White Paper' clearly says how if the government handles it with true sincerity, transparency and putting the nation first, the results are there for everybody to see," Sitharaman said.

She added, "When you don't put the nation first, when you put your first family first, and when you have other consideration than transparency, the results are out there for you to see. So what happened after 2008 when there was a global financial crisis and what happened post-COVID shows clearly that if the intent of the government is sincere results will be good."  -- PTI

Congress MP Manish Tiwari spoke on the 'White Paper' in Lok Sabha, and said: 'This is not a white paper, this is a black brush'.

He added, that it is nothing but a 'political manifesto'.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "India suffered a huge loss because of the Coal Scam at the hands of the UPA government."

FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented her opening remarks on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy', and said that this is "a factual record for posterity."

"The White Paper shows which government has put the Nation first and which government has put their families first," Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha. 

FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented her opening remarks on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy', and said: "Everyone was witness to the chaos during the Commonwealth games'.

Continuing her attack on the UPA government, she added, "What happened after 2008 when there was a global financial crisis and what happened post-Covid shows clearly that the intent of government is sincere."

Chaotic scenes unfolded in Lok Sabha as FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented her opening remarks on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy'.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman is now speaking on the following under rule 342: 'That this House do consider the White Paper on the Indian Economy and its impact on lives of the people of India'.

A parliamentary panel has observed that there are a total of 45 sanctioned projects under the Ministry of Tourism's PRASHAD scheme out of which "only 20 have been completed," noting that its "progress is very slow."

The committee has also recommended that the Ministry of Tourism may "evolve its own mechanism" to collect data on the arrival of foreign and domestic tourists and all other data relevant to the tourism sector.

The report of the panel on the Action Taken by the Government on the observations of the committee contained in its Report on Demands for Grants (2023-24) of Ministry of Tourism was presented in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Ministry of Tourism had launched the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Swadesh Darshan schemes in 2014-15 for developing infrastructure at tourist destinations, including religious sites, across the country. -- PTI

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has arrived in the Parliament.

Jagan is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders on Friday. This comes days after the Andhra CM said he hopes no party returns to power at the Centre with an absolute majority as that will leave the state with no leverage

Question hour is underway in Lok Sabha.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman will move the following: That this House do consider the White Paper on the Indian Economy and its impact on lives of the people of India'.

Sitharaman tabled a copy of the ‘white paper’ on the Indian economy under UPA government in the Parliament yesterday, contrasting the economic mismanagement under the UPA government with the BJP’s ‘ straightening’ of the economy.

Bills for consideration and passing:

1. The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
2. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024
3. The Constitution (J&K) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024
4. The Constitution (J&K) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Congress MP Manish Tewari has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha seeking a discussion on the border situation with China in the Lower House on Friday. (ANI)

Lok Sabha will resume at 11 am today, with a discussion on the ‘White Paper’, tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the cards. Sitharaman tabled a copy of the ‘white paper’ on the Indian economy under UPA government in the Parliament yesterday, contrasting the economic mismanagement under the UPA government with the BJP’s ‘ straightening’ of the economy. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to reply to the debate for which four hours have been allocated.

The Congress alleged on Thursday that the government's white paper on the country's economy under the UPA rule is aimed at hiding "the dark truth" and said hunger, price rise, unemployment and abject poverty are a lived reality for a vast majority of Indians under the Narendra Modi government.

The BJP-led government, in the last Parliament session before the general election, brought a white paper on Thursday tearing into the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule, saying it had turned India's economy into a non-performing one through indiscriminate revenue expenditure, off-budget borrowings and a pile of bad debts at banks.

Congress general secretary in-charge (organisation) K C Venugopal slammed it as a white paper to "hide the dark truth".

"Laughable that after a decade in power, the BJP comes out with a White Paper on our performance, because they have no real accomplishments to speak of," he said in a post on X.

The Congress on Thursday released a "black paper" to highlight the "failures" of the Modi government and alleged that the last 10 years have been a period of "injustice" and of "discrimination" against states headed by non-BJP dispensations.

The 'black paper', titled '10 saal anyay kaal' also alleged that issues such as rising prices, unemployment, subversion of institutions and farmers' "distress" had plagued the country.

Congress president Malllikarjun Kharge released the 54-page "charge sheet" against the Centre ahead of the government's tabling in Parliament of a 'white paper' on the "mismanagement" of the economy prior to 2014 aimed at drawing lessons.

"Whenever PM (Narendra) Modi presents his views in Parliament, he hides his failures. At the same time, when we speak about the failures of the government, it is not given importance. Therefore, we thought of bringing out a black paper and tell the public about the failures of the government," Kharge, who was flanked by party leaders Pawan Khera and Syed Naseer Hussain

Several prominent members of the Muslim community, at a gathering in Dehradun on Thursday, said they would not accept the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on Wednesday and that they would protest against it with civil disobedience. They termed the Bill an attempt to impose the laws of one religion on others.

During the meeting chaired by Dehradun Shahar Qazi Maulana Mohammad Ahmad Qasami, it was also decided that the Bill would be challenged in the Supreme Court.

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The 59-page ‘White Paper on the Indian Economy’ said when the Modi government assumed office in 2014, the economy was in a “fragile state”; public finances were in “bad shape”; there was economic mismanagement and financial indiscipline, and widespread corruption.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lays on the Table a copy of the 'White Paper on the Indian Economy' today, in Lok Sabha

The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, both passed by the Rajya Sabha, was taken up for discussion in the Lower House on Thursday.

The first bill seeks to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh, while the second one seeks to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Odisha.

The government has listed the tabling of 'White Paper on Indian Economy' in Lok Sabha's supplementary agenda for today. Finance Minsiter Nirmala Sitharaman will present it.

With the Congress releasing its black paper against the BJP government and the Centre set to table a white paper on the wrongdoings of the UPA alliance, a war of words ensued between leaders of the ruling and Opposition parties. 

Prime Minister Modi in Parliament today said the Congress' black paper was like a "kaala teeka" (to ward off evil eye) for his government. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the Centre's White Paper would "present a true picture of what happened during the UPA times". "There was no development, no highways were built, and the number of people below the poverty line increased," he said.

 

Meanwhile, TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay wrote it off as "childish politics". 

In a sarcastic jibe at the Congress, PM Modi thanked Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for coming out with a "black paper" against his government and referred to it as "kaala teeka" (to ward off the evil eye) in the midst of good work being done by his government.

The prime minister also referred to black robes worn by opposition MPs in the House as a mark of protest and said, "We also saw a fashion parade in the Rajya Sabha when some members came in black clothes." He gave his best wishes to all retiring members expressed the hope that that new generations will benefit from their experience.

Accusing the Narendra Modi-led BJP government of posing a threat to democracy, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged that the Centre had overlooked the unemployment issue and discriminated against non-BJP led states over the last decade.

At a press conference in the National Capital, Kharge released a ‘black paper’ against the Centre, titled ‘10 Saal Anyay Kaal’, which highlighted the ‘failures’ of the government on tackling issues like unemployment, price rise, and farmers’ distress. This comes ahead of the government’s tabling in Parliament of a ‘white paper’ on the “mismanagement” of the economy prior to 2014.

“We are raising the main issue of unemployment, which the BJP never talks about…There is discrimination being done with non-BJP states like Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana,” said Kharge.

rinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Thursday accused the government of making a "mockery" of Parliament by extending the ongoing session by one day. He said the government is extending the session by a day, while eight Parliament sessions were in a row cut short.

"Hypocrisy of the Narendra Modi government. Make a full mockery of Parliament and then extend last session by one day!" O'Brien said in a post on X. "Between 2020-2022, 8 sessions in a row cut short. Lowest number of sittings ever for a full 5-year Lok Sabha term," he said. "In 8 years, no 267 notice from Opposition allowed for discussion in Rajya Sabha," he said. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the contributions made by former PM Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha this morning. Speaking at the farewell of several RS MPs, including Manmohan Singh, PM Modi said: "I want to remember Dr Manmohan Singh today, his contribution has been immense…For such a long time, the way he has guided this House & Country, Dr Manmohan Singh will always be remembered for it…”

"I remember in the other House, during the voting, it was known that the treasury bench would win but Dr Manmohan Singh came on his wheelchair & cast his vote. This an example of a member being alert of his duties," the PM added. 

DMK leaders have kicked off their 'black shirt' protest near the iconic Gandhi statue in front of the Parliament building. The demonstrators, led by DMK MP TR Baalu, are protesting against the Centre's alleged neglect and partiality in allocation of funds to their states. Take a look: 

Good morning and welcome back to our live blog! Follow this space for the latest updates from Parliament. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said the Centre has released on time all funds due to the Karnataka government as recommended by the Finance Commission.

Karnataka has also been granted interest-free loan for 50 years for undertaking infrastructure development activities, she said.

"I want to assure the House that whatever has been recommended by the Finance Commission, I followed to the last word," Sitharaman said wondering "where is the Karnataka denied money".

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey Wednesday targeted Rahul Gandhi over his viral video with a dog at Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that has and claimed that the Congress leader gave biscuits meant for dogs to people in Jharkhand. Gandhi on Tuesday clarified that he offered a biscuit to a dog owner to feed the animal after it refused to eat from his hands. He added that he does not understand the BJP’s obsession with dogs.

PM Modi says his mantra (formuta) is "Desh ke vikas ke liye rajya ka vikas"."We should all follow that path. We will be able to develop the nation only through the development of the states, there can be no dispute about it. I assure you that if the state walks one step, it gives the strength (to the country) to walk two steps ahead."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress and its allies have always had difficulty in giving greater participation to SC, ST and OBC people. "They left no stone unturned to destroy Baba Saheb's ideas. They never arranged for a Bharat Ratna to him. When the government was formed with the support of the BJP, Baba Saheb was given Bharat Ratna."

"Today the country needs competitive, cooperative federalism," Modi said.

In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi read out a letter by then PM late Jawaharlal Nehru to the then chief ministers. 

"....I am reading out its translation -- "I dislike any kind of reservation, more particularly in services. I am strongly against anything which leads to inefficiency and second rate standards..," That is why I say that they are against it (reservation) by birth...Had the government recruited at that time and promoted them from time to time, they would have been here today," Modi said

PM Modi while speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday alleged that the Congress party deprived OBCs of their rights for 7 decades.

"The Congress which never gave complete reservation to OBCs, never gave reservation to the poor of the general category, which did not consider Baba Saheb worthy of Bharat Ratna, kept giving Bharat Ratna only to its family.  They are now preaching and teaching us the lesson of social justice. Those who have no guarantee as a leader are raising questions about Modi's guarantee...." he said.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, PM Modi said that under the 10 years of Congress rule, India was among the fragile 5 economies.

"Look at the 10-year history of Congress, (India) was among the fragile five economies. However, look at our 10 years, we are among the top five economies. We brought the country out of this after a lot of hard work," he said.