Financial coronavirus is being spread to destroy economy: Trinamool MP

In a bizarre statement on Monday, a Trinamool Congress leader has said that a "financial Coronavirus" is being spread from North Block which is destroying the economy of the country. Participating in the discussion on the Finance Bill 2020 -21 in Rajya Sabha, Manas Ranjan Bhunia of the TMC said the budget has dashed the hopes of people of the country as they expected that the finance minister would come out with remedial measures to bring the economy out of the current crisis. Bhunia accused the government of depriving the poor of employment opportunities generated from the MNREGA as it has cut expenditure under the scheme and alleged that it is selling out precious assets of the country.

"Coronavirus has created a pandemic situation in China. In our country, I suspect that another financial coronavirus is being spread from North Block which is destroying the economy of the country," he said.

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Bhunia said the government is not in a mood to admit its mistakes and states have not been paid lakhs of crores of Rupees due to which they are suffering financially. "The country is in a serious situation and this government is creating instability and unrest in our system," he said, alleging the government wants to destroy the basic structure of industrialisation. He also feared that the 'Make in India' slogan has been leading towards 'Assemble in India' and after the China episode and US-China trade ties, India has not been able to make the best use of the situation.

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"This government has tremendously deprived MGNREGA which is ultimately affecting the people of India as MGNREGA is the biggest employment generation scheme. This government is tremendously hungry for finances and is selling out PSUs. They want to destroy the basic structure of industrialisation. LIC is being sold out and a situation has been created by this government to sell out LIC which has no insurance. They are going to sell out Air India, BSNL and MTNL," Bhunia alleged.

The BJP, however, countered the criticism of the union budget, saying it fulfils the aspirations of the people and the government is performing better on "all parameters" as compared to the previous UPA regime and has enumerated schemes for all sections of society.

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Taking a jibe at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Bhunia said farmers, students, women and industry kept hearing the "longest Budget Speech" expecting something for them, but none got anything. The economy, he said, was in the ICU and required competent doctors.

"Indian economy is drowning, drowning, drowning... Our country is moving towards complete collapse and needs doctors, said the TMC MP. He said rise in unemployment, slowdown in agriculture and slump in industrial sector were among factors behind the deceleration in the GDP growth. He said the BJP had promised to provide 2 crore jobs each year and asked the government to provide details of 12 crore jobs given.

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