New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday responded to Manmohan Singh’s criticism of the Modi government's handling of the economy by saying he is more remembered for having brought India to "fragile five" and rampant inflation during his term.
Sitharaman also accused the former prime minister of trying to pull India down due to political considerations at a time when it is the fastest-growing major economy in the world following the Covid pandemic and is expected to remain so the next year too.
"I have great regards for you (Singh). I did not expect this from you. And I am hurt," Sitharaman said, wondering if he is suddenly speaking about the economy because of "electoral consideration" of the Punjab assembly polls.
In order to prove that economic indicators are better now, she compared data on export, FDI, and inflation during the Modi government with Singh's dispensation.
“He is better remembered as a prime minister under whose term inflation remained in double-digit for 22 months straight and who saw capital fly out of the country,” the minister said.
She also targeted the former Prime Minister regarding the recent revelations about former National Stock Exchange chief Chitra Ramkrishna having taken guidance of a 'Himalayan Yogi' in running the country's biggest stock exchange. She alleged that Singh was not even aware of how the bourse was being operated for so long when he was in power.
Singh on Thursday slammed the government saying that the short-sighted policies of the central government have caused people to suffer from a failing economy, rising inflation, and unemployment.
Targeting the central government over several issues, including the farmers' agitation, foreign policy, price rise, and unemployment, Singh said that the BJP's nationalism was "fake" and was based on the British policy of "divide and rule", just before the Punjab elections scheduled on February 20.
(With PTI inputs)