New Delhi: In the first post-interim Budget interview with private media, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants every new Central scheme to be connected to job creation.
According to her, the BJP is optimistic about securing a third term in office because all of its major initiatives have benefited the intended audience.
“In the past 10 years, consistently we have started schemes for the public. We have ensured every scheme reach the last beneficiary. The success of our hard work is that people have recognised what we have done,” Ms Sitharaman told NDTV. “The PM is always focused on job creation linked to every new scheme.”
She said that the Modi government is well-liked by the populace, as evidenced by the actual situation. People approach the PM on their own and tell him, “We have money in our account directly, a house, and water,” wherever he goes. “We are confident because the beneficiaries of the schemes have been reached,” stated Ms. Sitharaman, who made her sixth consecutive budget presentation.
She accomplished a remarkable feat by becoming the nation’s second Finance Minister, after Morarji Desai, to present the budget for six years in a row.
Since July 2019, Ms. Sitharaman has led the Finance Ministry, becoming the nation’s first full-time female finance minister. This was her first interim budget; she has previously presented five complete budgets.
“The interim Budget was all about setting a vision for India. We chose not to do a consultation ahead of the interim Budget. We reserved the consultation for the Budget in July,” the Finance Minister told NDTV.
She said the government didn’t give into temptation to announce big policies or schemes in the interim Budget, since the election is near.
“Maintaining fiscal discipline by cutting subsidies is not the right way… Fiscal discipline and subsidy are not substitutes to one another. We didn’t cut subsidy to maintain fiscal discipline. Why would we burden farmers?” she added.
The Finance Minister said the Centre steered clear of populism.
“We have not gone into populism. We focussed on actual work done. We walk on the path of empowerment, while others walk on the path of entitlement,” she said.
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