New Delhi: Amid the ongoing winter session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Monday took a jibe at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the issue of inflation. Targeting the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he said, “the Finance Minister had said that she does not eat onions, so she does not know the price of onion, what will the Finance Minister say about the price of milk, curd and flour?”
My maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha today was on the Supplementary Demand for Grants for Financial Year 2022-23, in which I shed light on the darkness and hidden realities of a sluggish economy caught in a downward spiral. https://t.co/JtNUBYqPSH
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) December 19, 2022
“The House that look at the situation of inflation, when the Modi government was formed in the year 2014, petrol was sold at Rs 55 per liter and today petrol is being sold at Rs 100 per litre,” he added.
Raghav Chadha, the leader of the AAP, attacked the BJP in the Rajya Sabha for describing the assistance that his party provided to individuals as “revadi” and questioned how the subsidies provided by the Centre are any different, calling for a discussion on what constitutes freebies.
The Bharatiya Janta Party has used the freebies issue to attack the Aam Adami Party (AAP), particularly during the recent assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as well as the polls for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
Also Read: Word ‘Pitai’ Should Not Be Used For Our Jawans: Jaishankar Hits Back At Oppn Over Tawang Clash
During the elections, BJP leaders, including the prime minister, cautioned voters against AAP’s promises of free power and water, arguing that such “revadis” (freebies) are ultimately detrimental to progress.
Participating in the debate on the appropriation bills, Chadha said, “Government wants the demand of grants of Rs 3,25,757 crore. About one lakh crore rupees are for one subsidy, Rs 80,000 crore is for the second subsidy and Rs 45,000 crore for the third subsidy and so on.
“They have asked for money under the heads of subsidy. This is not a demand for grants. This is a demand for subsidy.” He pointed out that when the AAP government gives free electricity, water, education and health services to people, “they (BJP) term it revadis”.
“Their subsidy is subsidy and our subsidy is revadi. This is not done. If they do it (give subsidy) then it is ‘punya’ (good dead) and when we do it then it is ‘paap’ (sin),” he said.
He demanded a debate to ascertain what falls in the definition of subsidy and freebies.
“I want that there should be a debate on what is free revadi (freebies) in this country and what does not constitute revadi,” he said.
He also mocked the requirement that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) receive grants in the amount of Rs 30 crore to acquire land and construct office buildings, arguing that every locality ought to have an ED office.
Chadha also cited the falling value of the rupee against the US dollar, stating that this should have increased exports but has instead decreased them.
He claimed that the government had reduced corporate tax rates in the hope of attracting investment, but this has not occurred.
He stated that making concessions to increase production will not help and that investment will only occur when demand is created.