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Video Editor: Md Ibrahim
Video Producers: Kanishk Dangi, Mythreyee Ramesh
In an exclusive conversation with The Quint’s Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia, former Union minister P Chidambaram, on Wednesday, 15 January, said that it was “too late” for the Centre to remedy the economy before March. He also commented that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thought Hindutva won elections and not policies.
Chidambaram added that even if the government introduces any major policy decision in the 1 February Union Budget, it would take at least six months to assess the impact.
Chidambaram also spoke on the widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, led by youth and students across the country, and the role of Opposition, in a free-wheeling chat with The Quint.
When asked what advice he would give Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of the tabling of Union Budget, the veteran Congress leader took a dig at her for “dismissing” all suggestions with “utter contempt.”
Speaking about the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prominent industrialists, the former finance minister said:
He added that while the “priority” of the government was Hindutva, they “did not understand” macro economics.
Lauding the students and people across the country who are protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Chidambaram said that it was “uplifting” and a matter of pride that young men and women are out on the streets.
However, he said that while the Opposition was against it, they are not united in their fight against CAA.
When asked whether the state and national-level elections are fought differently by parties, Chidambaram said that people have started voting against BJP.
However, he added that the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was won on “Pulwama, Balakot and giving a bloody nose to Pakistan.”
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Published: 15 Jan 2020,11:25 PM IST