Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 will present a record eighth consecutive budget that is expected to contain measures to shore up weakening economic growth and ease the burden on the middle class struggling with high prices and stagnant wage growth while being fiscally prudent.
In an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for neglecting party veterans, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has said the present regime has declared those above 75 as "brain dead" on assuming office.
India needs another shot of difficult reform, of the kind only possible at gunpoint. Mr Trump holds that gun to our heads now. A drastic reduction in tariff protection, other elements of sarkari wet-nursing will force entrepreneurial India to become competitive again, argues Shekhar Gupta.
Latching on to the terrorist attack in Pampore that killed eight Central Reserve Police Force personnel, Sinha also said that 'nothing' has come out, or will, of the Centre's Pakistan policy.
India's opposition parties have sharply criticized the Union Budget, calling it inadequate to address the country's economic woes and accusing the BJP-led government of using it to woo voters in Bihar and Delhi ahead of upcoming elections. Leaders from the Congress, TMC, DMK, SP, and CPI(M) voiced their disapproval, highlighting concerns over inflation, unemployment, and the lack of substantial measures to support the agricultural sector and the poor. They also criticized the tax cuts for the middle class as insufficient and coming too late after years of high taxes and rising prices.
Brushing aside as "a closed chapter" the developments in the party following elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha Wednesday said it would not affect the prospects of the party in elections.
Yashwant Sinha, former external affairs minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, has been admitted to Modi Seva Sadan in Ranchi and is reported to be stable and conscious. BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that Sinha may have felt weak due to the heat at a gathering in Ranchi, adding that he was better and fully conscious.
This will be the first full-year Budget of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government since it came to power for a third consecutive term in July last year.
'I made it known through diplomatic channels that I was unhappy.' 'So, he called me and tried to explain, but I said this is something that doesn't happen between friends.'
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Sunday contended his remarks in Goa misinterpreted but the comments he made at a conference indicated that he was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He is likely to speak on economic issues, particularly the impact of GST and demonetisation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hosted dinner for outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi with members of the Union Cabinet, chief ministers of various states and other dignitaries attending it.
He stressed that there was no need to bring the legislation as it was "anti-democratic" and "divided people on the basis of religion". "There is a constitutional crisis. You cannot ignore state governments. You have to take them into confidence," Sinha said when asked about resolutions passed by states against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha has said there are many "capable" prime ministerial candidates in the party, including himself, but a decision on whether or not to project anybody for the coveted post would be taken before the Lok Sabha elections. Sinha also sought to downplay reports of differences between BJP leader L K Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Hype has been created over the issue of Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate after appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as election campaign chief to "target the party", BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said on Monday.
All eyes are on the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive that will be held in Goa over the weekend. Speculations are rife that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may be made the party's campaign committee chief for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
'My one recommendation would be to first quell the violence and then encourage dialogue and build the trust among the different communities.' 'This is not easy but necessary, for violence cannot be the way forward.'
'It appears on the face of it that the Taliban of 2021 is not the same Taliban of 2001. There appears to be some difference. They are making mature statements. That is something we have to take note of,' former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha said
With the tablet carefully kept inside a red cover with a golden-coloured national emblem embossed on it instead of the briefcase, Parliament will be her next destination after the call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
BJP says Sinha has found a new ally in the Congress.
He said he will not join any party but will work to unite all non-BJP parties.
If there is unity in the Opposition, it is only about regional parties other than the DMK not wanting Rahul Gandhi or any other Congress leader for prime minister, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi appears set for a bigger role at the national level in the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls, with the party on Sunday re-inducting him into the Central Parliamentary board, its top decision-making body.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi appears set for a bigger role at the national level in the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls, with the party on Sunday re-inducting him into the Central Parliamentary board, its top decision-making body.
Sinha, a former finance minister, hogged the limelight and started trending high on social media on Wednesday morning, after he criticised his own government for sinking the economy, in an article he penned for The Indian Express.
Trinamool Congress vice-president Yashwant Sinha on Sunday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah following the outcome of West Bengal assembly poll.pti
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to create history when she presents her seventh straight Budget on Tuesday for the fiscal 2024-25, surpassing the record of former prime minister Morarji Desai. Sitharaman, who will turn 65 next month, was in 2019 appointed as India's first full-time woman finance minister when Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a decisive second term.
Sinha said that he was not invited for "any party events, rallies or organizational meetings".
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha takes the high road the Jaipur Literature Festival. Sanchari Bhattacharya reports
But his opponents are making a mistake. They shouldn't be smug, argues Vir Sanghvi.
'Modi had not discussed demonetization with me prior to his announcement on 8 November 2016. 'I learnt of it along with the rest of the country. 'I was not surprised when he did not discuss the issue with me prior to making the public announcement. 'It fitted in with his style of making dramatic announcements.' A fascinating excerpt from Pranab Mukherjee's The Presidential Years: 2012-2017.
Sinha said the data on economic growth put out by the Central government cannot be trusted.
Referring to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP veteran L K Advani, Sinha said, "Today's BJP is not like the one in the days of Atalji and Advaniji."
There are serious issues in the economy which need to be addressed
Pawar and his Manch can deliberate to their hearts' content, but so long as the Congress does not play ball the BJP has little to worry, asserts Virendra Kapoor.
Other ministers who have presented five straight annual financial statements include Arun Jaitley, P Chidambaram, Yashwant Sinha, Manmohan Singh and Morarji Desai.
Prime Minister Modi saw a reflection of himself -- she does not come from a political background, has no lineage, and had a lifetime of personal struggle and sacrifice.
Former Home Secretary R K Singh and two Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, figure in the third list of 97 Lok Sabha poll candidates released by the party on Thursday.
The finance minister continues to be backed by the same policy team in charting out the broad strategy as in the few earlier Budgets.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said the Congress has insulted Murmu.
