The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, recently remarked that cordiality was missing in the country’s political discourse. She made the statement while speaking at an event in Kolkata, where she stressed the need for healthy debates and discussions in a democracy.
Sitharaman highlighted that the Indian Constitution encourages healthy debates and discussions and that opposing views should be heard and respected. However, she lamented that political debates in the country often descend into mud-slinging and personal attacks, with little focus on the issues at hand.
The Finance Minister urged political leaders to rise above their differences and work towards the development of the country. She said that while there may be ideological differences between political parties, the focus should always be on what is best for the people.
Sitharaman’s comments come at a time when the country is witnessing a heated political discourse, with several issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, farm laws, and rising fuel prices, causing divisions among political parties.
The Finance Minister’s call for cordiality in political discourse has been welcomed by many, who see it as a reminder to political leaders to focus on the issues that matter and work together for the betterment of the country. The Indian political scenario has witnessed a lot of turbulence in recent times, with several contentious issues dividing political parties and causing rifts in the society. The COVID-19 pandemic has added to the woes, with the country struggling to contain the spread of the virus and manage the healthcare infrastructure.
One of the major issues that has caused a rift between the ruling government and the opposition parties is the recently passed farm laws. The opposition parties have been demanding the repeal of the laws, which they claim will hurt the interests of farmers and benefit large corporations.
Another issue that has caused divisions in the society is the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which grants citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries. The opposition parties have been opposing the law, claiming that it is discriminatory and goes against the secular principles of the Indian Constitution.
The rising fuel prices have also become a contentious issue, with the opposition parties blaming the government for not doing enough to control the prices.
Amidst all these issues, the Finance Minister’s call for cordiality in political discourse is seen as a positive step towards bringing political parties together and finding solutions to the problems facing the country. It remains to be seen how the political scenario will evolve in the coming days and whether political leaders will heed Sitharaman’s call for cordiality and healthy debates.