In a fiery rebuttal during Rajya Sabha’s budget session, BJP MP Surendra Singh Nagar accused Congress veteran P. Chidambaram of his trademark data distortion. The former Finance Minister had painted a grim picture of the economy using selective stats, prompting Nagar’s pointed response on Tuesday.
‘Listening to him, you’d think the country is at a standstill,’ Nagar quipped. ‘But manipulating numbers is Chidambaram’s forte—I’ve heard him do it plenty during his minister days.’ Shifting gears, Nagar lauded the budget as a visionary document steering India toward developed nation status by 2047.
He broke it down into core duties: accelerating economic momentum through higher productivity, skill-building for the youth’s dreams, and inclusive growth ensuring no one is left behind—be it families, regions, or sectors. Defense achievements stood out, with exports crossing Rs 23,000 crore, while India’s global GDP growth share hits 17%, trailing only China.
Nagar credited post-2014 initiatives like the Prguru portal for fast-tracking 3,300 projects valued at Rs 85 lakh crore. Iconic completions include J&K rail links and Assam bridges, now serving the nation. Addressing farmer concerns, he spotlighted Haryana’s pioneering MSP for 24+ crops under BJP rule, transforming rural landscapes with tractors multiplying from a handful to dozens per village—a testament to boosted farmer incomes.
Road transport and highways have seen explosive growth with record allocations in this Modi-era budget. ‘This isn’t talk; it’s delivery on the ground,’ Nagar asserted, underscoring the BJP government’s commitment to tangible progress.