New Delhi: "Do not start consuming sleeping
pills," this was the advice of former Finance Minister Jaswant Singh to the present incumbent in the Finance Ministry on the
issue fiscal deficit.
Making a brief remark before the Prime Minister`s reply
in the Lok Sabha to the Motion of Thanks on the President`s
Address, the BJP member referred to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee`s remarks that he has lost his sleep due to fiscal
deficit.
"I have read in newspapers that you have lost your sleep
due to fiscal deficit. I felt bad...even by mistake you should
not start consuming sleeping pills. Fiscal deficit has taken
place...you do not listen to us...try our remedy. You can ask
my friend Shatrughan (Sinha)," he said.
He wished Mukherjee success in his efforts saying that his
success meant success for the nation.
Singh then told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that
opposition parties were his "political adversaries" and not
enemies. "...your enemies, political or otherwise, sit behind
you and besides you. If you have to take heed, take that
heed."
He demanded a "start up fund" for Darjeeling district
from Mukherjee.
Amid strains in Congress` relations with ally Trinamool
Congress, Singh referred to a statement of the Prime Minister
that the government had numbers and said the issue was not
related to numbers but credibility.
PTI
