New Delhi, March 16: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Appropriation Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Congress MP Shakti Singh Gohil initiated the discussion on the bill, stating that it includes an additional grant request of approximately ₹19,230 crores for fertilizers.
Gohil remarked, “I must point out that our import percentage for fertilizers is continuously increasing. Today, we are importing about 138.8% of urea and approximately 94.5% of DAP compared to previous years.”
He also noted that the government is seeking additional funds for defense services. Gohil emphasized the need to consider neighboring adversaries like China and Pakistan. He mentioned that China invests heavily in research and development. “I am not suggesting a direct comparison, as their GDP is significantly larger, but at least we should compare their R&D budget with ours,” he stated.
Addressing the Finance Minister, Gohil questioned whether the additional revenue request of ₹41,430 crores for defense services is sufficient. As a member of the defense-related standing committee, he refrained from discussing internal matters but highlighted that vacancies in our armed forces directly impact national security. He clarified that neither he nor his party has ever politicized terrorism or the military.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora from the Shinde faction remarked that the discussion on the Appropriation Bill comes at a time of significant global uncertainty. “Wars are occurring in various parts of the world, and tariff-related disruptions are evident. This situation is truly unprecedented,” he noted.
Deora stressed that navigating through such crises and turning challenges into opportunities is the true strength of any government. He pointed out that 60% of our oil and gas supply comes from West Asia, and every $10 increase in crude oil prices adds approximately $15 billion in pressure on our expenses and fiscal deficit.
He also highlighted the substantial remittances sent back to India by Indian workers in the Middle East, amounting to around ₹3.5 lakh crores annually, which is a significant strength for our economy.
Deora expressed pride in India emerging as a center of economic and political stability, as well as political balance and wisdom on the global stage. He thanked the central government and the Finance Minister for establishing the Economic Stabilization Fund.
He suggested that rationalizing just 5% to 10% of ineffective spending could create an additional fiscal space of ₹50,000 to ₹70,000 crores annually, without imposing new burdens on taxpayers. This savings could be invested in more effective programs, especially those that develop assets and infrastructure.
Deora advocated for increased investment in domestic gas production and bio-CNG, noting that India’s agricultural and municipal waste has the potential to produce around 60 million tons of biogas annually, significantly reducing our dependence on imported CNG and LNG. He also called for expanding our strategic oil and gas reserves to last several months, ensuring we can withstand any global shocks.
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