New Delhi, Dec 20 (FN Agency) Lok Sabha on Monday passed the second supplementary demand for grants with voice vote, authorising the government to spend an additional Rs 3.73 lakh crore in the current fiscal, amid continuing protests by the Opposition. The supplementary demand includes Rs 62,000 crore for equity infusion in Air India Assets, along with allocations for fertiliser and food subsidies, and funds for MGNREGA.
It also provides Rs 58,430 crore by way of additional fertiliser subsidy, Rs 53,123 crore towards payment of pending export incentives and Rs 22,039 crore to the rural development ministry for transfer to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Fund. Moving for the passage of the supplementary demands, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also informed the Lok Sabha that government has recovered Rs 13,109 crore by selling the assets of defaulters like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya. She also talked about the Oil Bonds, and said, “Tax payers today are paying for the subsidy given more than a decade ago. It will continue for another five years”. The supplementary demands were passed through voice vote amid opposition protests demanding sacking of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, detention of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka, and other issues.