The Rajya Sabha has taken up discussion on the Finance Bill, 2021 suspending the Zero Hour and Question Hour. Initiating the discussion, Dipendra Hooda of Congress alleged that Indian economy is in a bad shape due to wrong policy of NDA government. He said the policy adopted before COVID-19 has worsened the economic situation during the pandemic. The Congress leader said, during COVID period the gap between the poor and the affluent has increased in the country.<br />'' <br />''Mr. Hooda also attacked the government over rising prices of petrol and diesel and criticized the centre for turning a blind eye to the hardships faced by people due to price rise. The Congress leader questioned the centre over the issue of unemployment . Mr Hooda raised the issue of farmers' protest and questioned government's claim of doubling farmers' income by 2022.<br />'' <br />''Participating in the discussion, Sushil Modi of BJP complimented the government's decision to not impose any new tax on the people in the budget.  Mr Modi also highlighted several measures taken in the bill  to ease the tax  burden.  Talking about taxes on petrol and diesel, the BJP MP said it is not only the Centre which receives taxes but states also get the money collected from taxes on petroleum products. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.<br />'' <br />''Vijaysai Reddy of YSR Congress demanded tax exemption for senior citizens saying in the current budget, they have only been exempted from compliance burden. He also questioned disinvestment in PSUs. TKS Elangovan of DMK criticized the government over the state of unemployment in the country.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Prof Ramgopal Yadav of Samajwadi  Party said the government has not made any provision in the current tax system to ease the hardship being faced by common man due to COVID 19. Dola Sen of TMC, Amar Patnaik of BJD and others also spoke on the bill. The discussion is underway.</span><br />