Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday ridiculed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that India is being seen as a global leader under the latter's competent leadership.
Jaitley also used the occasion to take a jibe at the Congress vice-president's recent 56-day sabbatical.
Jaitley dismissed the Gandhi scion's "suit-boot ki sarkar" remark, claiming that the ruling government was of "sooj-booj" (reason and common sense).
"India is now being considered a global leader and that is no mean achievement. It was unheard of, that when a prime minister travels abroad, the entire diaspora is rejuvenated. Prime Minister Modi may travel abroad, but at least we know where he is," he said in the Lok Sabha, referring to the mystery surrounding the Congress vice president's location during his sabbatical.
Admitting that the ongoing agrarian crisis is a challenge, Jaitley further informed the House that the government is committed to helping the farmers.
"The agrarian crisis is a challenge, but we have many reforms which are currently in the pipeline. The government is helping the farmers," he said.
Earlier this week, Gandhi had attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre over its Land Acquisition Bill, terming it 'anti-farmer'.
