Budget 2021 has set pace for India to become Aatmanirbhar: Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

Budget 2021: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in Lok Sabha, said that a challenging situation like the coronavirus pandemic didn't deter the Government from taking up reforms that are going to be necessary for sustainable long-term growth for this country. She said, "Stimulus plus reforms - an opportunity has been taken out of the coronavirus pandemic situation." Also Read | During debate on budget 2021, Rahul Gandhi rakes up farm laws in Lok Sabha "This Budget draws from the experience of the PM when he was CM - on the ground in Gujarat, seen so many revivals happening at a time when the license quota raj was going away post-1991 and then based on that experience, commitment to reform was blended into this Budget," said Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha while talking about Budget 2021. She further said that "Respecting Indian entrepreneurial skills, Indian managerial skills, Indian trade skills, Indian business skills, Indian youth, Jana Sangh onwards, BJP has consistently believed in India. We didn't borrow something from somewhere and gave a hybrid." Also Read | Gold prices in India today fall for the first time after 4 days; details inside "In the Budget speech, I very clearly said, we're taking a holistic approach to health. It's addressing preventive health, it is addressing curative health, it is also addressing well-being," she said, adding that "Otherwise, you are not going to get holistic health-related governance." "'Hum 2 hamare 2' is that - we're 2 people taking care of the party and there are 2 other people who I've to take care, daughter and damad will take care of that. We don't do that. Rs 10,000 is given to 50 lakh street traders as working capital for 1 year. They aren't anyone's cronies," she said. Adding, she said that "I'll read up figures to say what's the allocation now...Under revenue Rs 1,16,931 cr in 2013-14, Rs 86,741 cr capital in 2013-14, under pensions Rs 44,500 cr in 2013-14. What is it now? Rs 2,09,319 cr under revenue, Rs 1,13,734 cr under capital & Rs 1,33,825 cr under pension." "Where are the cronies? They're hiding probably in the shadow of that party which has been rejected by the people. The shadows who were invited to even develop a port. They invited, no open tenders, no global tenders," she said. "Who are our cronies? Our cronies are the common 'janta' of this country," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha. Click here for latest updates on Education.  -PTC News