'No relief for common man, kursi bachao budget': Opposition slams Union Budget 2024; BJP allies hail Budget
PTC News Desk: The Opposition blasted Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget speech on Tuesday for failing to address the problems of the common man and prioritising NDA allies like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar at the expense of other states.
The Congress party also accused the NDA government of stealing elements of their 2024 Lok Sabha election manifesto, especially the internship programme.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the first Budget of Modi 3.0 government as “Kursi Bachao” Budget.
He accused the Central government-led by BJP of appeasing its allies at the expense of other states.
"Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets," Rahul Gandhi said on X.
“Kursi Bachao” Budget.
- Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states.
- Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian.
- Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2024
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the Union Budget 2024 an underwhelming budget and said that there was no mention of key issues faced by the common man.
"The budget is underwhelming. I didn't hear anything about the major issues facing the common man. There is no mention of MNREGA and insufficient mention of steps taken to improve the income of commoners," he said.
He stated that "far too little" was done to address income disparities, and that a "token gesture" was made on job creation. “I welcome only one provision, which is abolishing of tax on angel investors. I had recommended it to Arun Jaitley more than 5 years ago,” he further said.
#WATCH | On Union budget 2024. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "It is an underwhelming budget. I didn't hear anything about the key issues facing the common man. There is no mention of MNREGA, and insufficient mention of steps taken to improve the income of a common person. We… pic.twitter.com/XHkYLxAWs3 — ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2024
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed the Finance Minister for implementing the internship scheme from his party's Lok Sabha election manifesto, which aims to provide opportunities to 10 million young people. He also criticised the government for failing to grant Andhra Pradesh 'special category' status.
Taking to X, the Congress leader said, “The finance minister has taken a leaf out of the INC’s Nyay Patra 2024, with its internship programme clearly modelled on the INC’s proposed Apprenticeship Program that was called Pehli Naukri Pakki.”
The Finance Minister has taken a leaf out of the INC's Nyay Patra 2024, with its internship program clearly modelled on the INC's proposed Apprenticeship Program that was called Pehli Naukri Pakki.
However, in their trademark style, the scheme has been designed to grab… pic.twitter.com/1viGt9rgfg — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 23, 2024
Ramesh then went on to say, "However, in their trademark style, the scheme has been designed to grab headlines, with arbitrary targets (10 million internships) rather than a programmatic guarantee for all diploma holders and graduates, like the Indian National Congress had envisioned."
Rabri Devi, former chief minister of Bihar, stated that the state's allocations are 'jhunjhuna'.
“Murders and thefts are happening in the state. Labourers are not getting their wages. Youth are not getting employment and farmer issues persist... Rs 26,000 crore allotted to Bihar is a jhunjhuna,” she added.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav blasted the Union Budget, stating that it overlooked the concerns of youth and farmers.
Speaking to the media, Yadav linked Budget announcements of several development measures for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh to the BJP's political compulsion to "save" its government and enquired if there was anything for Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state.
ग्यारहवें बजट में बेरोज़गारी-महँगाई, किसान-महिला-युवा का मुद्दा नौ दो ग्यारह हो गया है। pic.twitter.com/tXYK1e0J1G — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 23, 2024
#WATCH | Post Budget 2024: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "Till the farmers' issues are resolved and employment is ensured for the youth, the people will not benefit..." pic.twitter.com/xSK8pO0i2V — ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2024
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring called out the Centre for its "stepmotherly behaviour" against Punjab.
Disheartened to hear FM @nsitharaman budget proposals. Punjabis had high hopes from the @narendramodi led union government. The FM chose not to mention Punjab even once throughout her speech." "The Country’s food bowl deserves special grants for our infrastructural needs but @BJP4India continues to ignore Punjab," he added.
Disheartened to hear FM @nsitharaman budget proposals.
Punjabis had high hopes from the @narendramodi led union government.
The FM chose not to mention Punjab even once throughout her speech. The Country’s food bowl deserves special grants for our infrastructural needs but… pic.twitter.com/V1P6s3wtYE — Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) July 23, 2024
He also added that the BJP has taken elements from the Congress manifesto.
The "Pehli Naukri Pakki" Apprenticeship Program from Congress' Nyay Patra 2024 has clearly inspired
@FinMinIndia. But, @BJP4India should know that it takes talent to even copy, as the initiative mentioned today is in true BJP-style, focused on making headlines than actually helping people. While copying this initiative, I hope the FM thoroughly read our entire manifesto. It would be wise to adopt a few more of our ideas so that @BJP4India might actually start doing some real work for a change.
The "Pehli Naukri Pakki" Apprenticeship Program from @INCIndia's Nyay Patra 2024 has clearly inspired @FinMinIndia.
But, @BJP4India should know that it takes talent to even copy, as the initiative mentioned today is in true BJP-style, focused on making headlines than actually… — Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) July 23, 2024
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal stated that Union budget 2024-25 is discriminatory towards Punjab.
"...No allocation has been made for much-needed diversification or debt waiver for farmers of the State. The union govt has also failed to provide a legal guarantee for MSP and allocate funds to purchase all crops on MSP. The poor and the youth have also been shortchanged. There is no enhancement in MNREGA..." he posted on X.
▪️Union budget 2024-25 is discriminatory towards Punjab.
▪️None of the demands of the State have been accepted.
▪️No allocation has been made for much needed diversification or debt waiver for farmers of the State.
▪️No tax concessions have been announced for the industrial… — Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) July 23, 2024
Andhra Pradesh CM and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu hailed the support from the Centre.
"On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I thank the Hon'ble Prime Minister, @narendramodi Ji and Hon'ble Union Finance Minister, @nsitharaman Ji, for recognising the needs of our State and focusing on Capital, Polavaram, industrial nodes and development of backward areas in AP in the union budget of FY 24-25. This support from the Centre will go a long way towards rebuilding Andhra Pradesh. I congratulate you on the presentation of this progressive and confidence-boosting budget."
On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I thank the Hon'ble Prime Minister, @narendramodi Ji and Hon'ble Union Finance Minister, @nsitharaman Ji, for recognising the needs of our State and focusing on a Capital, Polavaram, industrial nodes and development of backward areas in… pic.twitter.com/ImgW3sor8d — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) July 23, 2024
A key aide to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar praised the Union Budget, claiming it meets our demand for special assistance, even if grant of special status was not possible due to practical difficulties."
State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary expressed hope that the Rs 26,000 crore allocation will boost growth "in all sectors."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Finance Minister deserve credit for understanding and addressing Bihar's concerns in the budget," Chaudhary told reporters.
"We had sought special status for the state. We also urged that if practical issues came up, the state receive special assistance in another form. The budget meets expectations," the JD (U) leader stated.
- PTC NEWS
