War of Words: Nirmala Sitharaman Vs Kavitha

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has come down heavily on Telangana CM KCR and his BRS party. Taking a strong objection to KCR’s comment on India’s USD 5 Trillion economy aim, Nirmala Sitharaman said “Whom are you mocking? The people of the country?

Nirmala Sitharaman is in Hyderabad. When some reporters questioned her on CM KCR’s remarks, she responded in the above manner. Earlier CM KCR laughed at PM Modi’s objective to make India USD 5 Trillion economy by Fy 2023-24.”By 2023-24, Modi said India will become a USD 5 trillion economy. That 5 trillion (economy) itself is a joke. Really silly. At least our aim should be big. We should dare to dream. That 5 trillion aim is very less,” KCR said. This is something an ordinary clerk can account for, CM KCR had commented.

Meanwhile, Sitharaman raised the issue of the state debts and the way Telangana is mired in debts. “In 2014, the debt of Telangana was ₹60,000 crores, but in the last 7 to 8 years it has crossed Rs 3 lakh crores,” the finance minister pointed out. Sitharaman stressed that the Centre has full rights to control the debts of the states.

KCR’s daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who is being investigated by the national investigative agencies because of her alleged link with the Delhi liquor policy scam, has responded to Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks. Kavitha said what is wrong in KCR’s comments and asked why there was such a low target.

“I want to ask Nirmala Sitharaman who repeatedly says that our competition is with China — China’s economy is over USD 18 trillion. So why is our goal USD 5 trillion? Why aren’t we aiming higher when we have a high working population and so many resources,” Kavitha told news agencies.