New Delhi, :Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said things have become transparent after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to the debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants and Demands for Grants for 2020-21for Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in the Lok Sabha, she said, ‘After abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, there is no corruption and things have become more transparent.’She said after the abrogation of Article 370, cement is getting cheaper rates to the people.The Finance Minister questioned Congress for not resettling the Kashmiri Pandits, when it was in power.On grants for Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Sitharaman said, “The cash supplementary side of the grantsincludes additional expenditure on account of enhancement in dearness allowances and increase in numberof pensions. These are the things, for which we seek the permission of the House for clearing the grants.”She said there has been increase in exports and GST collection after abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.The Finance Minister said for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, the start-ups are being promoted.Replying to the debate, the Finance Minister said the total supplementary demands of the Central Government for a total of Rs 4,80,881.66 crore would require a net additional revenue of Rs 53,963.8 crore. It has 78 Demands for Grants from various Departments and four Appropriation Bills.She said in view of the pressure on the economy in view of Corona virus, it is necessary to provide cash in the hands of the people in rural areas and hence the allocation for MGNREGA has been increased from Rs 60,000 crore to Rs 71,000 crore.The Finance Minister said provision of Rs 2,908 crore is being made for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.The Lok Sabha passed The Appropriation (No2) Bill, 2020, The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2020, The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No 2) Bill, 2020, The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No4) Bill, 2020 and the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2020 by a voice vote, after the Finance Minister’s reply on the debate in the House on Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2019-20, Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2019-20 from April 1, 2019 to October 30, 2019 for Jammu and Kashmir and Demands for Grants for 2020-21 for Jammu and Kashmir from October 31 to March 31, 2020, Demands for Grants for Jammu and Kashmir and for Ladakh for 2020-21.UNI
