Interim Budget 2024: Why Lakshadweep found mention in Budget speech?
Interim Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during the presentation of the Interim Budget 2024, highlighted the significance of tourism, specifically mentioning Lakshadweep, amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions with the Maldives. Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised plans for port connectivity and tourism infrastructure projects on various islands, including Lakshadweep, to cater to the growing interest in domestic tourism.
The mention of Lakshadweep comes against the backdrop of a diplomatic row between India and the Maldives. Recently, three deputy ministers from the Maldives posted derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Lakshadweep. This incident led to their suspension by President Muizzu, causing concern in India and sparking calls for a tourist boycott by Indian visitors, who constitute a significant portion of tourists to the Maldives.
President Muizzu further escalated tensions by requesting India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives by March 15. The situation adds a diplomatic dimension to the budget announcement, emphasizing the intricate geopolitical considerations in the region.
In the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the Interim Budget presentation, the focus was on approving the budget for 2024. This marks Sitharaman's sixth budget as the Finance Minister and her final one in the second term of the Modi government, given the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections later this year.
The Budget Session of Parliament commenced with President Droupadi Murmu's address to a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Sitharaman's achievement of presenting six budgets, matching the record set by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, underscores her extensive experience in steering the country's financial policies.
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