Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responds to Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav’s criticism of the IDBI Bank stake-sale decision. Yadav had described the move with a “season end sale” jibe, and multiple outlets report Sitharaman counters his remarks in a public argument about the rationale and outcomes of the disinvestment.
Sitharaman’s defence focuses on the performance and turnaround of the banking sector under the NDA government. NDTV and others say she also criticises Yadav for what she characterises as insincere opposition, alleging it echoes “crocodile tears.” She points to legacy issues from the earlier Congress-led UPA period, arguing that the problem of non-performing assets (NPAs) left behind required action. Across outlets, the dispute centres on whether the stake sale is a necessary corrective measure and how the responsibility for banking-sector stress is allocated across governments.
