Published 17:26 IST, September 19th 2019
Nirmala Sitharaman & Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in Twitter spat over economy
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday defended her handling of the economy saying she has been working on measures to revive the growth from the low.
Advertisement
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday defended her handling of the economy saying she has been working on measures to revive the growth from a six-year low. Sitharaman, who is not known to reply to comments made on her twitter handle, instantly choose to respond to drug-maker Biocon Chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's criticism of lack of fiscal measures to support growth.
"As Finance Minister you might've observed I've been working on and regularly speaking about measures we've been taking on matters of the economy," Sitharaman posted in a three-part tweet.
Kiran ji, a few things. This press conference was dedicated to Cabinet decisions. I began by saying that I was there in my capacity as Chair of the GoM which has dealt with the matter. @drharshvardhan is out of country for an international meet. 1/3 https://t.co/oL1UXPqEvJ
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) September 19, 2019
Cabinet Minister/s join @PrakashJavdekar, the I&B Minister, when required. Health Secretary was also with me, explaining details. These are protocols, as you know, which govt press conferences follow. 2/3
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) September 19, 2019
As Finance Minister — you might’ve observed — I’ve been working on and regularly speaking about measures we’ve been taking on matters of the economy. 3/3
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) September 19, 2019
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw had wondered why Finance Minister, and not the health minister, addressed the press conference on Wednesday to announce a ban on e-cigarettes.
"E-cigarettes banned, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman - Shd this not come from Min of Health? How about banning gutka too? How about MoF announcing some fiscal measures to revive the economy?" Shaw tweeted this morning.
Sitharaman clarified that she had addressed the press conference on Wednesday in her capacity as head of the group of ministers (GoM) that had gone into the issue of ban on e-cigarettes. Responding to Nirmala Sitharaman's clarification, Kiran Mazumdar thanked the Finance Minister for clearing her confusion.
I now understand n I stand corrected. Tks for explaining my confusion. Really grateful for your response.
— Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) September 19, 2019
16:54 IST, September 19th 2019