Congress takes jibe at Center over its stimulus package, says govt scared of credit rating agencies

Taking a jibe at the central government's economic package, Congress alleged that the government of India is scared about the downgrading of credit rating by international agencies. It also accused the government of reintroducing the old schemes as the stimulus package.

New Delhi: After the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announced the fourth tranche of the economic package, on Saturday, Congress alleged that the Central government is having a "fear" of the International Credit Rating Agencies.

While addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Praveen Chakraborty said, "What is the need of these reform announcements in the midst of a pandemic when the actual need is to put money directly into the hands of those who have suffered. We heard everything but this."

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He alleged, "Government of India is scared about the downgrading of credit rating by international agencies. But this is not the time to think about that. This is the time to take care of our people. I want to urge FM Nirmala Sitharaman not to care about international credit rating agencies in the current situation."

Congress party also accused the government of reintroducing the old schemes as the stimulus package, saying that there's "nothing new" about today's announcements.

Lashing out at the Center, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "After the package was announced today, will even a single penny go into the pocket of 8 crore migrant labourers and farmers, 7 crore grocery shopkeepers or middle class? What will those 14 crore people, who lost their jobs, will get from this package?"

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He also condemned the Center's decision of "privatizing" ordinance industries. He said, "Ordinance factories are being privatised in the name of corporatization. We oppose this. PM and FM need to understand that these companies need modernization, not privatization."

Gourav Vallabh also opposed the decision to hike FDI limit in Defense Manufacturing Under automatic route from 49 per cent to 74 per cent, saying, "This is an area of strategic importance. There was such a proposal even during UPA government, but we rejected it. Congress strongly opposed this decision to increase FDI in the defence sector as our national security and sovereignty are concerned."