New Delhi, Dec. 5 -- union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today defended the Health and National Security Cess Bill in the Lok Sabha, arguing that collecting adequate revenue is vital for ensuring national security and defending the country.
Emphasizing that the government is learning from past failures, Sitharaman cited historical instances where the armed forces were severely underprepared due to a crippling lack of resources.
"Collecting revenue and ensuring that our nation is well defended is the rightful duty of every government, and that is exactly what we are doing here," Sitharaman stated.
She recalled the hardships faced by soldiers who were left without essential gear like boots, woollens and food in the Himalayas.
The Mi...