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Rahul Gandhi Calls Budget BJP's 'Kursi Bachao' Scheme, PM Modi Counters

Following the budget announcement, the Congress called it a copy-paste of its previous budgets, while the BJP-led NDA hailed the budget, saying that it would give power to every section of society.

Union Budget Reactions: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament on Tuesday. The FM announced major changes in personal income tax rules. In this year's Union Budget, the Centre has made several announcements for farmers and women and also took into consideration the issue of unemployment. One of the crucial announcement made by Sitharaman was pertaining to changes in personal income tax rules.

In sops for the middle class, Sitharaman on Tuesday hiked the standard deduction by 50 percent to Rs 75,000 and tweaked tax slabs under the new income tax regime.

Following the announcement of the Union Budget, reactions poured in from leaders across party lines. On the one hand, the ruling BJP-led NDA hailed the budget, saying that it would give power to every section of society, while the INDIA bloc criticised it, calling it a copy-paste of the Congress budget. The opposition said that key issues faced by the common man were not included in this year's budget.

Reacting to the Union Budget, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said, “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."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at the government over the Union Budget and said that issues of unemployment and inflation, among others, vanished. "In the eleventh budget, the issues of unemployment, inflation, farmers, women, and youth have vanished," Yadav said.

On the Union Budget announced on Tuesday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that there was no mention of key issues facing the common man. He called the Union Budget "underwhelming.". Tharoor welcomed the budget proposal to abolish the angel tax and claimed that he recommended the same to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley five years ago.

"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," Tharoor told ANI on Tuesday. He said that "far too little" was seen in addressing income disparity and added that a "token gesture" was made on job creation.

"I welcome only one provision, which is the abolishment of tax on angel investors. I had recommended it to Arun Jaitley more than 5 years ago," the Congress MP said.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari slammed the budget, saying that there was no mention of the MSP and the government has handed a 'jhunjhuna' to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

"... They had made big promises for farmers, but what did they get? There was no mention of MSP, and neither was there an increase in Kisan Nidhi... They have handed a 'jhunjhuna' to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh..."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the PM Modi-led central government was aiming to save its own position.
"I think this budget should be called 'PM Sarkaar Bachao Yojana' because they have realised if they want to save this Govt for the next 5 years, they would need their alliance partners to be happy. After denying a special status to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, they have given them funds. Maharashtra continues to be ignored by the Centre. It has become a state where you keep taking in money from." she said.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, "I understand the political compulsions of catering to the demands of their alliance partners from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. They have also taken some elements from our manifesto, especially the apprentice scheme. They also announce many new schemes."

Post budget 2024, Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said "They (Centre) might find this budget good on the papers but it is not going to benefit the farmers on the ground. Companies that will teach organic farming to the farmers are going to benefit from this. Govt should pay the price of crops, provide free power, cheap fertilizers, reduce GST on farming equipment..."

Empowerment Of New Middle Class: BJP-Led Centre Hails Budget

Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praise over the budget saying that it will give power to every section of the society and empower the new middle class. "In the last 10 years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty. This budget is for the empowerment of the new middle class. The youth will get unlimited opportunities from this budget. Education and skill will get a new scale from this budget. This budget will give power to the new middle class...This budget will help women, small businessmen, MSMEs," PM Modi said.

Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh took to social media platform X and expressed gratitude towards Finance Minister Sitharaman for giving highest allocation to Ministry of Defence.

"As far as the allocation to Ministry of Defence is concerned, I thank the Finance Minister for giving the highest allocation to the tune of Rs 6,21,940.85 Crore, which is 12.9 % of total budget of GoI for FY 2024-25. The capital outlay of Rs 1,72,000 Crore will further strengthen the capabilities of Armed Forces. Earmarking of Rs, 1,05,518.43 Crore for domestic capital procurement will provide further impetus to Atmanibharta. I am pleased that Border Roads have been given 30% increase in allocation over the last budget under the capital head. This allocation of Rs 6,500 Crore to BRO will further accelerate our Border Infrastructure," Rajnath Singh said.

Hailing the Union Budget, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said lakhs of job opportunities and new tax slabs announced in this year's budget are welcome.

"For youths, lakhs of job opportunities will be created, and for the middle class the new tax slabs for income tax announced in the budget are welcoming. This budget is a financial document that is a step towards India becoming a $ 5 trillion economy and it to be a growth engine for the world. This budget is dedicated to 140 cr people in the country. I would like to express my gratitude towards PM Modi and also to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her entire team," Yogi Adityanath said.

BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar said, "This budget has paid maximum emphasis on job creation. The government has announced plans for and funded the Eastern part of the country... From critical minerals to space research, whatever will be of importance in the coming days has been allocated funds... MUDRA loan has been increased and interest on education loans has been decreased. This is a holistic budget."

BJP Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut said "Relief fund has been promised for Himachal Pradesh. We are very happy with the budget..."

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