Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said in Parliament that Rahul Gandhi was probably becoming India’s “doomsday man”, recalling his grim predictions on a range of subjects from Covid to the farm laws.

The former Congress president, however, told farmer rallies that he was merely discharging his duty of telling the truth to the country.

Sitharaman’s comments came during her reply to the budget debate, and in response to Rahul’s “hum do hamare do” jibe, accusing the government of working for only two crony capitalists. While he did not name anyone, a Union minister named Ambani and Adani.

“Why does Rahul Gandhi insult constitutional authorities — President, Prime Minister, former Prime Minister, Speaker? Why does he always create fake narratives, predicting Covid will destroy everything, people will die?” she said.

“He will constantly say things which will demean India, insult India, which will show India in poor light. Saying that nothing will go well for India. He will ask their (Chinese) embassy in the midst of border tension what is happening.

“Never trust(s) Indian government, always joining the fringe group for doing politics. Dreadful abuse, destructive politics. Probably he is becoming a doomsday man for India. He will say, ‘I will not debate budget’; what role (does) he want to play?”

Sitharaman devoted most of her speech to rebutting Rahul’s charge of crony capitalism, suggesting his attack had rattled the government.

She argued that the BJP and its parent, the Jana Sangh, had explicitly supported India’s entrepreneurs and businesses unlike the Congress, which swung between socialism and liberalisation.

She wondered whether the affordable houses built by the Narendra Modi government, the rural roads and village electrification, were meant for crony capitalists.

The finance minister offered a 10-point rebuttal, which included questions about unkept loan-waiver promises in Congress-ruled states.She said the phrase “hum do hamare do” should denote the four Gandhi family members (presumably including Robert Vadra) and wondered whether the “damaad” (son-in-law) would return the land he (allegedly) took from small farmers in Haryana.

An unfazed Rahul, however, repeated his accusations at rallies in Rajasthan, saying the Prime Minister was conspiring to hand over the Rs 40 lakh crore agriculture trade to his capitalist friends.

“This is not about farmers alone. This is India’s problem; the Prime Minister is snatching what belongs to 40 per cent of India’s population to be given to his cronies. The farmers have realised this; every citizen should understand the nature of the threat and join them,” he said.

Rahul participated in a tractor rally along with chief minister Ashok Gehlot and other senior party leaders in Kishangarh.

He told a farmers’ meeting in Makrana: “Don’t believe what I say (if you so wish) but it is my duty to tell you the truth. I’m doing my duty.

“They made fun of me when I said the coronavirus was going to cause serious damage. Now I’m telling you that Modi is clearing the decks for his capitalist friends to take over the agriculture trade. This will destroy the kisan-mazdoor and snatch the future of the youth.”

Rahul recalled that he had refused to discuss the budget in the Lok Sabha and concentrated only on the farmers.

“Whenever there is a tragedy, members stand in silence for two minutes to offer condolences. Over 200 farmers died but neither House of Parliament offered condolences,” he said.

“I asked Lok Sabha members to stand up for two minutes after I spoke. While the Opposition members stood up, no minister, no BJP member stood up. That was an insult to the farmers. The Speaker told me that I should have given it to him in writing if I wanted condolences for the farmers.

“I’m going to give it in writing to both Houses. I’m sure the Lok Sabha Speaker will allow two minutes of condolences for the farmers who lost their lives during the protest.”
He asked the farmers: “Did I commit a mistake by standing in silence and asking the members to offer condolences?”

As a cry of “No” went up, Rahul said: “Even if that was a mistake, I will commit that again. Let them do whatever they can. Let them throw me out of Parliament. But I will do that again.”

Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Chowdhury later said: “There is a saying in Hindi, ‘Khisiyani billi khamba noche’ (a reference to someone taking their frustration out on the wrong person)’. Sitharaman is not a finance minister, she is a minister of pique. She, along with the Prime Minister, ruined India’s economy.

“How does she explain that 85 per cent of Indians suffered income losses during the lockdown while India’s billionaires became richer by 35 per cent? She gave tax relief to the corporate sector, money that was used in cleaning up their balance sheets.

“Why are the prices of petrol and diesel rising? The government gets angry and starts hurling derogatory remarks when we ask uncomfortable questions.”