Finance Minister hits back at Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress should stop being obstructionist

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, said the Congress and its leaders should stop being “obstructionists” if they fail to “contribute positively” to the country.

In a post on social media, he also listed the achievements of the Narendra Modi government under various social sector schemes and asked whether they were for the benefit of the Adanis or the Ambanis.

“Since 2014, we continue to serve every sector and every segment of our society through our policies and initiatives,” Ms. Sitharaman said. “Farmers, poor, women, youth, MSMEs are at the center of our governance structure.”

The Finance Minister asked whether the 58 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts created were for “Adani/Ambani”.

He also questioned whether the achievements under Mudra Yojana, Vishwakarma Yojana, Internship scheme, e-Shram cards, VB-G RAM G Act, Ayushman Bharat, PM KISAN, Lakhpati Didi, Drone Didi, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, SVANidhi, ECLGS 5.0 and many other initiatives were in the interest of industrialists.

“We are focused on the welfare of ordinary people,” the Finance Minister said. “If @INCIndia [the Congress] and if their leaders cannot contribute positively to nation building, they should stop being obstructive. “A responsible opposition does not engage in fear mongering.”

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had attacked the government, saying “a wild economic storm is looming over our heads”. “What has Modi done in 12 years? ji At an event in Raebareli, Mr Gandhi said it was built as a structure and was meant only for Adani and Ambani. “And now this structure is about to collapse. The blow will not fall on them; they have escape routes.”

“The blow will fall on you, the youth, the poor, the middle class, the farmers, the laborers, the small traders who are not even part of this structure,” he added. “Look around you. Are you a part of this structure or a victim of that storm?”