Ahead of the Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that she was aware of the pressures of the middle class. “I too belong to the middle class so I can understand the pressures of the middle class. I identify myself with the middle class so I know,” Sitharaman said. The minister also said that the present Modi govt has not imposed any fresh taxes on the middle class.

“I quite recognise their problems. The government has done a lot for them and will continue doing the same,” she added.