Budget Reactions Highlights: INDIA MPs To Protest In Parliament As States With Non-BJP Govts 'Blacked Out', Congress Leader Says
Union Budget Reactions Highlights: As Nirmala Sitharaman presents the first Budget of Modi government 3.0 for a 'Viksit Bharat', catch all the LIVE updates on ABP Live.
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Background
Union Budget Reactions Highlights: The world's eyes were on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she tabled the first full Budget of the Modi 3.0 government. With the current GDP at $3.9 trillion at a growth rate of 8.2%, it all boiled down to whether it would be a reformative or a populist Budget.
As the BJP failed to get an absolute majority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hard pressed to keep his allies, especially Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu, happy. Andhra and Bihar bagged special packages for development of the respective states.
What Does The Opposition Say About Budget 2024
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday criticised the Union Budget, labelling it a "kursi bachao budget" and alleging that it offers hollow promises to BJP allies at the expense of other states. He further claimed that the budget is a mere "copy and paste" job of the Congress manifesto for the 2024 polls and previous budgets.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for 2024-25, marking her seventh consecutive presentation and surpassing the record of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai. This is the first budget in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term in office.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi stated, "'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."
The Congress party also criticised the Union Budget, accusing it of being more focused on posturing than action. The party claimed that the "copy-paste government" had borrowed heavily from their manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls. The opposition also pointed out that the budget indirectly acknowledges mass unemployment as a national crisis, asserting that political compulsions are evident throughout the document.
PM Modi Hails 'Visionary' Budget 2024
In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Union Budget for its focus on youth, backward sections, women, and the middle class, as well as on manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. He asserted that the proposed employment-linked incentive schemes would create crores of new jobs.
"This visionary budget will uplift and empower every stratum of our society, paving the way for a brighter future for all," Modi said in televised remarks following the budget presentation. He emphasised that the budget aims to strengthen the middle class and provide new opportunities for education and skills development.
"The budget has strong plans to empower the tribal society, Dalits, and backward classes. This budget will help in ensuring the economic participation of women," the Prime Minister added. He also highlighted that the budget will open new paths for the progress of small traders and MSMEs, with a significant focus on manufacturing and infrastructure to boost economic development.
Prime Minister Modi noted that over the last decade, approximately 25 crore individuals have been lifted out of poverty. "Building on this momentum, this budget will further energise the aspirations of our neo-middle class. Unprecedented opportunities will be unleashed for our younger generation," he said, adding that the budget will empower the middle class like never before.
Follow ABP Live as we track the Union Budget 2024 updates Live.
Budget Reactions LIVE: Tamil Nadu 'totally neglected,' DMK MP Tiruchi Siva says
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva says, "It is not a Union Budget. Allotting more funds indiscriminately to certain states which are in favour of them and those parties which are in alliance with them. We have to say that the Budget has assured that fund will be given to some states which are prone to floods, in future. But Tamil Nadu has already suffered because of flood and cyclone. We have asked for relief fund but nothing has been given. So, we are totally let down. They have not treated Southern states as part of India. So, it is totally political in nature and nothing has been done in favour of poor people...Our state has been totally neglected. So, we don't have anything good to say for this Budget..."
Budget Reactions LIVE: Delhi minister Atishi says capital given no money 'as share in central taxes or to MCD'
Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi says, "Delhi is the growth engine of the country. It pays more than Rs 2 lakh crore in income tax to the Centre and Rs 25,000 crore as central GST. Despite paying Rs 2.32 lakh crore in taxes to the Centre, Delhi was asking for just Rs 20,000 crore, which is just 0.4 per cent of the Union Budget. But no money was given as its share in central taxes or to the MCD..."
Budget Reactions LIVE: Odisha Neglected in Union Budget, Says Naveen Patnaik
President of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, has voiced strong criticism of the Union Budget, highlighting several areas where he believes Odisha has been overlooked.
In a statement, Patnaik pointed out that the BJP had promised special category status for Odisha in its manifesto. However, this promise remains unfulfilled, while substantial packages worth crores have been announced for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. "The BJP had put special category status in their manifesto as a promise to the people of Odisha, however, this promise has not been considered for Odisha," he remarked. He further noted that the state’s longstanding demand for a revision of coal royalty, pending with the central government for years, has been rejected, resulting in a significant revenue loss for Odisha. "The state will lose thousands of crores of revenue every year," he said.
Patnaik also criticised the government for not addressing the promises made to Odisha during election campaigns, especially in sectors such as agriculture, MSME, and industry. "There is no mention of any promise being fulfilled in this budget. This is a complete neglect of Odisha and her people," he added.
Highlighting Odisha's vulnerability to natural disasters, Patnaik expressed disappointment over the lack of a special package for disaster management. He observed that while other states' requests for flood protection packages have been granted, Odisha’s genuine demands have been ignored. "On both counts, whether it is special package or revision of coal royalty, Odisha continues to be neglected by the NDA," he stated.
Addressing broader economic concerns, Patnaik criticised the budget for its lack of significant measures to tackle inflation and unemployment. "Today, the most serious issue being faced by the common public is inflation/price rise, and unemployment. This budget does not have any considerable intervention to address these two major issues," he remarked.
Patnaik also brought up the ongoing Polavaram issue, accusing the government of partiality. "Allocating more and more funds for Polavaram without sorting out the genuine grievances of Odisha shows partiality against Odisha," he commented.
Reflecting on the broader regional focus, Patnaik pointed out that despite repeated claims of focusing on Eastern India, including Odisha, the state has seen no substantial benefits over the years. "Every budget talks of focus on Eastern India, including Odisha. There has been nothing substantial for Odisha over the years, and this budget has also been a disappointment for us," he stated.
However, Patnaik did express some optimism regarding tourism. "I’m happy to see there is a focus on tourism for Odisha. I hope it is substantial, and we shall wait for the details to come out," he concluded, though he reiterated his overall disappointment. "Along with the people of Odisha, I feel disappointed at the continued neglect of Odisha while the state contributes so much to the country."
Budget Reactions LIVE: BJD chief Naveen Patnaik slams BJP for denying special status, coal royalty to Odisha
"BJP had put special category status in their manifesto as a promise to the people of Odisha. However, this promise has not been considered for Odisha. Whereas special packages allocating crores of funds have been announced for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Along with this, the demand of Odisha for coal royalty which has been pending for years with central government has been rejected because of which the state will lose thousands of crores of revenue every year," says former Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik
Budget Reactions LIVE: INDIA MPs to protest in Parliament as states with non-BJP govts 'blacked out', Congress leader says
On the meeting of INDIA bloc floor leaders, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari says, "We discussed the budget...Wherever there is a non-BJP government, the budget has been blacked out...In the name of development, there is nothing...we will hold a protest tomorrow in the Parliament regarding this. We will raise our voice inside the Parliament also...This is not the budget of the BJP, it is the budget of the whole country, but they have presented it as if it is BJP's budget..."
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