'Callous Budget With No Ground Connect That Betrays Hopes Of People': P Chidambaram

Chidambaram claimed that Sitharaman's Budget Address made no mention of poverty, unemployment, or inequality.

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

Source : PTI

Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, did not even use the phrase "unemployment" once in her Budget address, according to Congress politician P Chidambaram, who was criticising Sitharaman's 5th Budget, which is delivered a year before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the FM did not use the words "poor," "inequality," or "equity" in her address, according to Chidambaram.

While criticising the Union Budget 2023-24, Chidambaram said it is "a callous budget that has betrayed hopes of vast majority of people," news agency PTI reported. 

"Mercifully, she said the word 'poor' twice in her speech. I am sure the people will take note of who are the concerns of the government and who are not," Chidambaram said while addressing the press conference organised by Congress. 

LIVE: Congress party briefing by Shri @PChidambaram_IN and Prof. @GouravVallabh at AICC HQ. https://t.co/Lam1XreO5z

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 1, 2023

The Budget has not benefited the poor, young, taxpayers, or housewives, according to Chidambaram.

Slamming the governement, Senior Congress leader stated: "Who has benefited from this Budget? Certainly, not the poor, not the youth looking desperately for jobs, not those who have been laid off, not the bulk of the taxpayers and not the homemaker."

Noting the tax reduction in the Union Budget, Chidambaram said: "No taxes reduced except for small number of those who have opted for new tax regime; no cut in 'irrational' GST rates."

No taxes reduced except for small number of those who have opted for new tax regime; no cut in 'irrational' GST rates: P Chidambaram

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2023

The fact that the new tax regime will be the default one is highly unjust, and it will deprive regular taxpayers of the social security that the old regime may still provide, according to Chidambaram. "Making new tax regime default option 'grossly unfair', will rob ordinary taxpayers of meagre social security under old regime," he said stated, PTI reported. 

'This Is Modi's OUPD Approach': Jairam Ramesh 

While many academics and business leaders praised Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2023, which made income up to 7 lakh tax-free, the opposition branded the budget opportunistic and claimed there was nothing in it for farmers and the poor.

VIDEO | D RAJA, General Secretary of Communist Party of India to @PTI_News: "This Budget fails to take note of rising unemployment". #Budget2023 #Budget2023WithPTI (n/33) pic.twitter.com/WqHB2sSoVW

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2023

According to Congress politician Jairam Ramesh, the budget is built on the OPUD (overpromise, underdeliver) approach. "Last year's Budget drew applause for allocation towards agriculture, health, education, MGNREGA & welfare of SCs. Today the reality is evident. Actual expenditure is substantially LOWER than budgeted. This is Modi’s OPUD strategy of headline management—Over Promise, Under Deliver," Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

Last year's Budget drew applause for allocation towards agriculture, health, education, MGNREGA & welfare of SCs. Today the reality is evident. Actual expenditure is substantially LOWER than budgeted. This is Modi’s OPUD strategy of headline management—Over Promise, Under Deliver

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 1, 2023

'This Is Cheating The Middle Class': Shiv Sena

Slamming the budget, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi stated: “New Regime: Tax Exemption upto 7 lakhs but has take away deductions one could claim to minimise tax burden, a middle income person was incentivised to own asset by way of 80c (eg home loan), the government has taken that away. This is cheating the middle class!"

New Regime: Tax Exemption upto 7 lakhs but has take away deductions one could claim to minimise tax burden, a middle income person was incentivised to own asset by way of 80c (eg home loan), the government has taken that away.
This is cheating the middle class!

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) February 1, 2023

'Full Of Gimmick': Manish Sisodia On Union Budget 2023-24

Calling the budget "full of gimmicks," Manish Sisodia stated: "Most worrisome thing about budget is that it will drown country in debt," PTI reported. 

"Every year since 2014, new phrases have been heard in the budget. 'Acche din' & '15L' were just words. But what happened to promises related to Bullet Train, to double the income of farmers & 60 Lakh jobs Last year," said Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, IANS reported.

"Every yr since 2014, new phrases have been heard in the budget. 'Acche din' & '15L' were just words. But what happened to promises related to Bullet Train, to double the income of farmers & 60L jobs Last yr." : Reacted Delhi Dy. CM #ManishSisodia on #UnionBudget 2023-24 pic.twitter.com/2jQ0Q2yViS

— IANS (@ians_india) February 1, 2023

"Union Budget 2023-24 has nothing for employment generation or controlling inflation; only has announcements for superrich," he further stated.

(With Inputs From Agencies)