Nirmala Sitharaman

Beautiful rendition of the Tamil song “Durga Lakshmi Saraswati” in Ārabhi rāga, aptly presented at the commencement of Chaitra Navaratri. What makes it even more mesmerising are the visuals from the Patteswaram Durga temple. Patteswaram (ancient Pazhayaarai) once served as a capital of the Cholas. Goddess Durga was revered as the guardian deity of the city and worshipped by Chola kings. The Durga shrine here forms part of the Dhenupureeswarar temple complex. Worshipped as Vishnu Durga, the Goddess is depicted with eight hands, holding the śaṅkha (conch), cakra (discus), bow, arrow, sword, shield, and a parrot, standing gracefully in a tribhaṅga posture. The outer maṇḍapas were built by Govinda Dikshitar, the guru of the Thanjavur Nayak king Raghunatha Nayak, which also fittingly aligns with the occasion of Ugadi.

ఉగాది పర్వదినం సందర్భంగా మీకు మరియు మీ కుటుంబ సభ్యులకు హృదయపూర్వక శుభాకాంక్షలు. ఈ పండగ మన అందరి జీవితాల్లో నూతన ఆరంభాలను, సానుకూలతను మరియు ఆయురారోగ్యాలను నింపాలని కోరుకుంటూ, అందరికీ శ్రీ పరాభవ నామ నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు.

ಯುಗಾದಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಈ ಶುಭ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. ಈ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಾಚರಣೆಯು ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸ ಆರಂಭ, ಸಕಾರಾತ್ಮಕತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕ್ಷೇಮವನ್ನು ತರಲಿ. ಮುಂಬರುವ ವರ್ಷವು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಹರ್ಷದಾಯಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಯಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿರಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

Warm wishes on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, and Chaitra Navratra. May these celebrations bring fresh beginnings, positivity, and well-being into our lives. Wishing all a joyful and prosperous year ahead.

A delegation led by Smt Daggubati Purandeswari (@PurandeswariBJP), Hon'ble MP (LS), calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

Captain Brijesh Chowta (@CaptBrijesh), Hon'ble MP (LS), calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

Shri Raj Kumar Roat (@roat_mla), Hon'ble MP (LS), calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

Smt @nsitharaman interacts Shri BS Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP), former Chief Minister of Karnataka at Parliament House.

Delegation led by Shri Parshottam Rupala (@PRupala), Hon'ble MP (LS) & former Union Minister, calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

The twin balance sheet, the fragile five economy, they're all as a result of the way in which the economy, the banks were treated. Our fiscal headline numbers would have been healthier, if we hadn't been burdened by that sin. UPA left behind, ₹2.92 lakh crores in oil bonds and the broken economy, the banking system. I told you about the oil bonds which we cleared now. I'm now telling you about the broken banking system which required ₹2.8 lakh crores for recapitalization. The health of the banks today is that they are paying returns to the government and with that money we are able to do more meaningful welfare projects. But when you left in 2014, you left the banks in such a fragile situation that I had to give ₹2.8 lakh crores for recapitalizing them. If that money was available, our fiscal deficit would have been better. Then you can showcase what my fiscal deficit was and compare it with yours. You have pushed everything under the carpet and say, "You never will match that period. Your growth is not good enough now." If I do those sort of things, it will be three times better. We don't do any of that. The proposed Economic Stabilization Fund will provide fiscal headroom to allow India. How am I able to do? Having created the fiscal headroom, I'm able to allow India to respond to the global headwinds such as the recent crisis. We are able to mobilize that kind of money because the headroom is available. Imagine in 2014, would I have had the comfort? No, because I'm recapitalizing banks, I'm paying loans, I'm lifting the economy from where they have left the fragile five. So economy today, is a totally different thing. - Smt @nsitharaman in Rajya Sabha

Shri Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp), Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, calls on Smt @nsitharaman.

चंद्रशेखर आज़ाद जी (@BhimArmyChief) ने कहा कि नगीना संसदीय क्षेत्र बिजनौर ज़िले में है और उनके साथ सौतेला व्यवहार हो रहा है। मैं यह कहना चाहती हूँ कि बिजनौर ज़िले में आवश्यक इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर में बहुत बड़ा परिवर्तन आया है। जल जीवन मिशन के अंतर्गत यदि पहले की स्थिति देखें तो 2019 से पहले केवल 18,237 घरों को, यानी लगभग 4% घरों को ही नल से जल मिलता था। आज 97.8% घरों को नल का पानी मिल रहा है। इसके अलावा 2,254 गाँवों में से 1,738 गाँवों में पूरी तरह से नल से जल कनेक्शन दिया जा चुका है। 11 ब्लॉक और 1,123 पंचायतें 100% जल जीवन मिशन के कवरेज से लाभान्वित हैं। फिर पीएम आवास योजना (शहरी) के अंतर्गत बिजनौर ज़िले में 23,000 घरों का प्रावधान हुआ है। आयुष्मान भारत(प्रधानमंत्री जन आरोग्य योजना) के तहत 3.32 लाख परिवारों को कवरेज मिला है और कुल मिलाकर 10.66 लाख व्यक्तियों को बिजनौर में आयुष्मान भारत बीमा मिल रहा है। इसके अलावा बिजनौर ज़िले में 418 आयुष्मान आरोग्य मंदिर हैं और 18 जन औषधि केंद्र भी कार्यरत हैं। स्वच्छ भारत मिशन के तहत ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में 3 लाख से अधिक घरों में शौचालय बनाए गए हैं और 1,144 कम्युनिटी सैनेटरी कॉम्प्लेक्स भी बिजनौर ज़िले में बनाए गए हैं। प्रधानमंत्री उज्ज्वला योजना के तहत 42,190 LPG कनेक्शन दिए गए हैं और लाभार्थियों को प्रति सिलेंडर 300 रुपये की सब्सिडी भी मिलती है। इसके अलावा बिजनौर की एक और विशेषता है कि राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण आजीविका मिशन (NRLM) के माध्यम से 2.36 लाख महिलाओं को स्वयं सहायता समूहों से जोड़ा गया है। अंत में, पोषण ट्रैकर के अनुसार 3,237 आंगनवाड़ी केंद्र बिजनौर ज़िले में संचालित हो रहे हैं, सिर्फ कागज़ों में नहीं, बल्कि वास्तव में ऑपरेशनल हैं। क्या यह सब सुनने के बाद भी सौतेले व्यवहार की बात कही जाएगी? - लोकसभा में श्रीमती @nsitharaman

The opposition simply doesn't care. But when they come again and stand here, they ask, “What did you give for MGNREGA? This government has reduced the funds for MGNREGA.” When I am answering, when I am giving provisions in the budget, they are not listening. And on top of that, they stand here shamelessly and try to suppress my voice. I strongly condemn their behavior. When we brought the VB-G RAM G Bill, at that time ₹95,000 crore was allocated. It is in the budget. After the Finance Bill is passed, from 1st April there will be provision of ₹95,000 crore under the same. But apart from that, many states have pending bills. They are raising this point and asking what will happen to their old bills once it comes into effect. For those old pending bills, ₹30,000 crore has been provided in this Supplementary Demand for Grants. This will clear the MGNREGA dues up to 31st March. - Smt @nsitharaman in Lok Sabha

It is ironic that even while I am speaking about how the Government is preparing itself to face unexpected events, including supply chain disruptions and issues related to LPG, the Opposition is not willing to listen to the reply. Instead, they prefer to pursue their own agenda. I would like to make it clear that because of developments taking place abroad, several challenges are emerging for our country. The question before us is how we should face these challenges, how we should arrange the necessary funds to deal with them, and how we should remain prepared. When the Government is taking many such steps to ensure preparedness, it is unfortunate that the Opposition, instead of standing together in the interest of the nation and giving confidence to the people, is taking irresponsible positions. Such conduct should be condemned. - Smt @nsitharaman in Lok Sabha

I'm astonished. There is a member standing there in the well saying and he's coming around now, to say it's not released. How will I release without the parliament passing it? I'm asking you all to pass this, so that money goes for the ex-serviceman welfare. And here is an honourable member saying, it is not released. Can I release it without the parliament passing? You don't want to pass it! - Smt @nsitharaman in Lok Sabha

In such a situation, it is necessary for all of us to rise above party lines and support the Government in dealing with the challenges coming from abroad. We must come together for the benefit of the country and speak in a way that gives hope and confidence to the people. Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi is putting all his strength into this effort and is working tirelessly to ensure that the citizens of this country do not face difficulties. However, it is unfortunate that some in the Opposition believe that their only role is to come into the Well of the House and shout slogans. This is a very unfortunate situation for the country. - Smt @nsitharaman in Lok Sabha

Shri Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju), Hon'ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Minority Affairs, calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

Dr Dharamvira Gandhi (@DharamvirGandhi), Hon'ble MP (LS), calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

Shri Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya), Hon'ble MP (LS), calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.

Shri Mohan Yadav (@DrMohanYadav51), Hon'ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, calls on Smt @nsitharaman at Parliament House.