‘India Cannot Afford Fearmongering’: FM Sitharaman Says Economy Remains Resilient
Amid the West Asia crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged focus on fuel, fertiliser and forex, asserting India’s economy remains resilient. She also criticised pessimistic narratives and highlighted concerns over delayed MSME payments.
Verdicto News Desk 
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday called for sharper attention to the “3Fs” — fuel, fertiliser and forex — amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, while asserting that India’s domestic economy remains resilient despite external pressures.
Speaking at an event marking the 37th anniversary of Small Industries Development Bank of India, Sitharaman criticised those promoting what she described as an overly pessimistic narrative around the economy, arguing that India cannot afford fear-driven discourse.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeals focused on collective responsibility and public confidence, she said such messages should not be interpreted through a lens of negativity.
The Finance Minister emphasised that the government’s economic response has been calibrated to protect growth and reduce pressure on households. She noted that the reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel would result in a revenue impact of nearly ₹1 lakh crore.
Highlighting global headwinds, Sitharaman said crude oil prices remain elevated, fertiliser costs have reached “unimaginable” levels, and rising gold prices are creating additional challenges for India’s external sector.
She reiterated that managing fuel costs, fertiliser availability and foreign exchange stability remains critical in the current geopolitical climate.
Taking aim at critics, Sitharaman said some voices were portraying the situation as if “everything is crumbling,” while overlooking the efforts and resilience shown by ordinary citizens.
“All the good being done by people themselves is forgotten, and a pessimistic, cynical narrative is created, which is not right,” she said.
She stressed that most current challenges are externally driven and maintained that India’s domestic economic fundamentals remain strong.
“India cannot afford fearmongering. We need to inspire confidence through both our words and actions,” she added.
The Finance Minister also flagged delayed payments to MSMEs, noting that approximately ₹8.1 lakh crore remains locked, affecting business liquidity and growth. She urged public sector undertakings to ensure payments are made within the prescribed 45-day period.
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