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Finance Minister assured the X user that concerns are taken seriously and public input plays an important role in policies.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (File photo)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has responded positively to a request from a social media user, urging the government to provide relief to the middle class. The user, Tushar Sharma, appealed to X (formerly Twitter) while commenting on a post shared by the minister.
In her reply, FM Sitharaman expressed her appreciation for the input, emphasising that the government listens to and values public feedback.
Finance Minister Acknowledges Public Request for Relief
A Heartfelt Request for Middle-Class Relief
Tushar Sharma, acknowledging the complexities of governance, shared his request for the Finance Minister to consider measures that would ease the financial burden on India’s middle class.
Thank you for your kind words and your understanding. I recognise and appreciate your concern.PM @narendramodi ‘s government is a responsive government. Listens and attends to people’s voices. Thanks once again for your understanding. Your input is valuable. https://t.co/0C2wzaQtYx— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 17, 2024
“We deeply appreciate your efforts and contributions to the country, and you have our utmost admiration. I humbly request you to consider providing some relief for the middle class. I understand the immense challenges involved, but it’s just a heartfelt request,” X user Sharma posted.
Sitharaman Values Public Input Amid Rising Inflation
In her response to Sharma, the Finance Minister assured that his concerns were taken seriously, reiterating that public input plays an important role in shaping government policies.
“Thank you for your kind words and your understanding. I recognise and appreciate your concern. PM @narendramodi’s government is a responsive government. Listens and attends to people’s voices. Thanks once again for your understanding. Your input is valuable,” said Sitharaman.
Inflation: A Growing Concern for the Middle Class
Retail Inflation
India’s retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), in October 2024 surged to a 14-month high of 6.21 per cent, according to the latest official data released on Tuesday. However, industrial production grew by 3.1 per cent in September 2024.
India’s retail inflation had stood at a nine-month high of 5.49 per cent in the previous month of September 2024. It was at 4.87 per cent in October 2023.
The latest inflation print of October 2024 is beyond the RBI’s upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India, which kept the key short-term lending rate unchanged earlier this month, has been tasked by the government to ensure inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side.
According to the latest data, India’s food inflation also jumped to 10.87 per cent, compared with 9.24 per cent in September 2024 and 6.61 per cent in October 2023.
