New Delhi: In her budget speech Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focussed on social justice and inclusive development, describing the Narendra Modi government’s “saturation approach” for the people as “secularism in action”.
The finance minister accused previous governments of indulging in tokenism and using social justice as a mere “political slogan”.
“For our government, social justice is an effective and necessary governance model. The saturation approach of covering all eligible people is the true and comprehensive achievement of social justice. This is secularism in action, (it) reduces corruption, and prevents nepotism (bhai-bhateejawaad),” Sitharaman said.
Her comments come in the backdrop of the Opposition grouping INDIA making ‘social justice’ its key poll plank.
Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, M.K. Stalin and Akhilesh Yadav, among others, have relentlessly pressed for a caste census and made a pitch for equitableness to take on the BJP in the upcoming general elections.
The BJP-led central government’s decision to award the Bharat Ratna to former Bihar chief minister and social activist Karpoori Thakur on the eve of his 100th birth anniversary was seen as an attempt by the ruling disposition to blunt the Opposition’s campaign in this respect.
The finance minister said Thursday of the Modi government: “There is transparency and assurance that benefits are delivered to all eligible people. The resources are distributed fairly.”
“All, regardless of their social standing, get access to opportunities,” she added. “We are addressing systemic inequalities that have plagued our society. We focus on outcomes and not on outlays so that socioeconomic transformation is achieved.”
The finance minister pointed out that, for the Modi government, castes meant the poor, women, the youth and the farmer.
She added: “As our Prime Minister firmly believes, we need to focus on four major castes… garib, mahilayen, yuva and annadata. Their needs, their aspirations, and their welfare are our highest priority. The country progresses when they progress. All four require and receive government support in their quest to better their lives. Their empowerment and well-being will drive the country forward.”
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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