In response to Rahul Gandhi's allegations of crony capitalism within the BJP government, Nirmala Sitharaman fired back at the Congress leader, accusing him of adopting extreme left-wing rhetoric to garner support. Sitharaman dismissed Gandhi's claims, citing historical instances of crony capitalism under previous Congress administrations, including those of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi. Additionally, she criticized Gandhi for making baseless accusations without evidence, referencing his previous legal troubles. Furthermore, Sitharaman highlighted the development initiatives aimed at tribal communities, emphasizing the effective utilization of district mineral funds to support tribal areas—a feat she claims was neglected during Congress rule.