New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed as a “hoax” the relief package announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to support the Indian economy in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharpening his attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, Gandhi said that no family can spend the “economic package” announced by the finance minister on their daily needs.
“No family can spend FM’s ‘economic package’ on their living/food/medicine/school fees of the child. This is not a package, but another sham!” he said in a post tweeted in Hindi.
The Congress leader’s remarks came when Sitharaman earlier on Monday announced a relief package of more than Rs.6 lakh 28 thousand crore.
Addressing a press conference, Sitharaman announced the COVID economic relief package for the sectors worst hit by the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Announcing a loan guarantee scheme of Rs 1.1 lakh crore for the Kovid-19 affected areas, the Finance Minister said that Rs 50 thousand crore of them would be for the health sector.
The objective of the scheme is to upgrade the medical infrastructure targeted to the unserved areas.
Sitharaman said the guarantee cover would be for expansion in cities other than eight metros and for new projects related to medical infrastructure.
The Finance Minister also announced Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), which was launched in May 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package.
In another relief measure, Sitharaman announced a credit guarantee scheme to facilitate loans to 25 lakh people through micro finance institutions (MFIs).
Sitharaman announced financial assistance to over 11,000 registered tourist guides and travel and tourism stakeholders. He also announced free tourist visa to five lakh tourists.
.