Former Union Minister and seasoned Congress leader P Chidambaram took a dig at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, countering her claim regarding the achievements of the Modi Government. Chidambaram contended that the Modi government’s apparent success in certain areas is a result of building upon the foundations laid by its predecessor, the UPA government
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram countered Sitharaman’s article highlighting the achievements of the Modi government over the past nine years. He acknowledged that many of the examples cited by the finance minister are true, but he emphasized that these achievements are common for any government that has ruled for a significant period of time.
Chidambaram specifically addressed Sitharaman’s mention of five examples where the opposition had taken the government to court and lost. Disagreeing with her assessment, Chidambaram pointed out that the Supreme Court had already declared triple talaq illegal prior to the passage of a parliamentary law, the Article 370 case is still pending in court, and several cases under the GST laws remain unresolved.
In terms of India’s top rankings in milk, honey, fruit, and vegetable production, Chidambaram emphasized that these achievements were attained years ago and have been maintained since. He reminded Sitharaman that the Aadhaar system, which plays a crucial role in Direct Benefit Transfer, was conceived, developed, and implemented during the tenure of the UPA government.
Chidambaram also criticized the finance minister’s claim of constructing 11.72 crore toilets, highlighting the issue of many of them remaining unused and inoperable due to water scarcity.
“While every government has its own set of achievements, the success of the Modi government in certain areas can be attributed to the groundwork laid by the UPA government,” Chidambaram asserted.
Sitharaman, in her statements, had criticized the Opposition for their limited role in Parliament, suggesting that their focus was more on disruption and delays through court petitions rather than engaging in debates. She specifically mentioned that over 15 cases, including those related to GST, Article 370, vaccination, triple talaq, and Central Vista, were argued by the Opposition and ended in their defeat.
The exchange between Chidambaram and Sitharaman highlights the ongoing political discourse and the contrasting viewpoints on the accomplishments and legacy of the Modi government.