Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman She also mocked the Congress saying BJP only has workers and no relatives in the party. (File photo)
Parliament Winter Session 2019 LIVE Updates: Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill to give effect to the reduction in corporate tax. The bill, moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was criticised by opposition parties who remarked that the ordinance lacked long-term vision, mission and perspective.
Alleging that the finance minister is not ready to accept that Indian economy has plunged into a crisis, Chowdhury said he wonders whether the finance minister should be called ‘Nirbala’ Sitharaman instead of Nirmala Sitharaman as she seems to be afraid of speaking her mind.
In reply to the opposition’s comments, Sitharaman said although she has been told that she is the worst finance minister India has ever had, she is open to all kind of criticism. She also mocked the Congress saying BJP only has workers and no relatives in the party.
Highlights
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on Tuesday.
Lok Sabha passes a bill giving way to a reduction in corporate tax.
Rajya Sabha members largely supported a bill to ban the use and sale of electronic cigarettes in the country, but some opposition lawmakers said the government should also consider restricting the use of raw tobacco and conventional cigarettes, which are more harmful.
Banning e-cigarettes alone will not help and if the government was really serious about the ill-effects of tobacco use, it should completely ban it across formats, which includes cigarette, beedi and gutkha and not single out e-cigarettes, some members suggested and pointed to "loopholes" in the bill. (PTI)
There is no conclusive data available in India to directly establish air pollution as the cause of deaths or diseases, the government informed Parliament on Monday.
Air pollution is one of the many factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Apart from the environment, the health of an individual is impacted by food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity and heredity etc, Minister of State for Environment and Forest Babul Supriyo told the Rajya Sabha. (PTI)
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said profiling of the rape accused and convicts is important. Addressing the issue based on research on their profiles can be one of the ways to tackle violence against women. Sensitising both boys and girls from a young age is also important.
Sitharaman says, "BSNL reached operative profit level because of efforts of Ravi Shankar Prasad and his ministry. Now, the employees have been given a pay package which they have agreed to." Because of PM Modi's decisions, BSNL is recovering from its crisis.
Nirmala Sitharaman says, "If it is in anyone's DNA to ask questions and run away before answers are given, it is some other party and not our party. Each time we come to give replies instead of name-calling."
"Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two women have become cabinet ministers. A woman was given the defence portfolio... So, I would like to say I am Nirmala, will remain Nirmala... I want to put an end to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's concerns about whether I should be called Nirmala or 'Nirbala'. I would like to clarify all women in our party are 'sabala'," Nirmala Sitharaman hits back at Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
In reply to the opposition’s comments, Sitharaman said although she has been told she is the worst finance minister India has ever had, she is open to all kind of criticism. She also mocked the Congress saying BJP only has workers and no relatives in the party.
All the businesses registered under Companies Act will be benefited from this proposed corporate tax cut, says Sitharaman.
Sitharaman said she has been called a very bad finance minister. In reply to opposition's criticism on bringing in ordinance after tabling budget just a few months ago, Sitharaman says the ordinance is prompted by global developments.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "Core sector production of the country has dropped to -5.2, a 14-year low." He says the government is obsessed with corporates and hates common people. "They are in love with Sensex, electoral bonds," he says.
"Only 10-12% of the businessmen who are corporate giants are benefited by the corporate tax reduction. The benefit should effectively percolate to the smaller manufacturer," says RSP's N K Premachandran
TDP MLA Jayadev Galla says selling PSUs to recover from fiscal deficit is a wrong step. "By doing this, a time will come when there will be no PSUs to sell," he says. Demand and consumption are declining, he says, adding that along with putting more cash in the hands of people, govt should also give individual tax relief to the citizens.
"Why are people choosing to be NRIs if the conditions are so good in our country," asks Sule. Mentioning that Chidamabaram had suggested a list of measures to improve the economic condition of the country for the last two years, Sule said, a good leadership means to take the criticisms positively and work on them.
"Sitharaman's measures are reactive, they should be proactive. But better late than never," says NCP's Supriya Sule.
"If this bill was really to help everybody, especially MSME sector, then the tax rate reduction should apply to all entities. It should not apply to just the companies, it should apply to LLPs, partnership firms & other non-corporate entities also," says Mahua Moitra.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "Don't look up to GDP as Bible, Ramayan or Mahabharat. GDP will lose its importance with time."
"The government wants to treat foreigners better than Indians. That is why FIIs are exempted from paying the taxes. I request you to treat the economic problem holistically, the tax cut will apply to all manufacturers," Mahua Moitra says.
Reduction in corporate tax rates only benefit those making profits, says Mahua Moitra, adding that government wants to keep grey areas that officials can misuse.